Alli Faults Makinde as Diphtheria Outbreak Hits Oyo Communities

The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation has criticised Oyo State’s childhood immunisation coverage amid reports of a diphtheria outbreak affecting several local government areas, calling on Governor Seyi Makinde to explain the state’s efforts to protect children against vaccine-preventable diseases.

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The organisation, in a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Bisi Oladele, said Oyo ranked lowest among the six South-West states in childhood immunisation coverage despite receiving billions of naira in development financing under the World Bank-supported Immunisation Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT) Project.

The campaign organisation listed the affected local government areas as Atisbo, Ibadan North-West, Oyo West, Akinyele, Saki, Egbeda, Oriire, Ibadan North, Ibadan South-West, Iwajowa, Ona-Ara, Atiba, Lagelu, Ogbomosho North, Surulere and Oluyole.

It described the reported outbreak and concerns over cases and fatalities among children as a public health issue requiring an urgent response, demanding that the state government account for resources spent on immunisation and outbreak prevention.

“The reported outbreak of diphtheria, with the associated concerns about cases and fatalities among children, should be a wake-up call for Oyo State,” the organisation said, urging the government to ensure vaccination reaches vulnerable communities.

According to figures cited by the campaign organisation, Oyo’s childhood immunisation coverage increased from 51.3 per cent in the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey to 55 per cent in the 2025–2026 survey, a rise of 3.7 percentage points.

It compared this with reported increases in other South-West states, including Ekiti, from 58.2 to 84.9 per cent; Lagos, from 52.1 to 86 per cent; Ogun, from 52.1 to 63.9 per cent; Ondo, from 59.8 to 84 per cent; and Osun, from 54.4 to 78.1 per cent.

The organisation said regional immunisation coverage rose from 58.2 to 72.5 per cent, arguing that Oyo’s reported performance raised questions about the reach and effectiveness of the state’s interventions.

It further cited audited financial records indicating that Oyo had received approximately ₦9.832 billion in cumulative World Bank/International Development Association funding under the IMPACT Project as of December 31, 2024. With the state’s ₦41 million contribution and ₦13.45 million in miscellaneous and interest income, total receipts stood at approximately ₦9.886 billion, according to the organisation.

“Billions of naira in development financing must translate into measurable improvements in public health,” the campaign organisation said, calling for greater accountability over the use of the funds.

It urged the state government to work with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and development partners to contain the outbreak and prevent further transmission.

The organisation also demanded the publication of updated IMPACT Project financial and implementation reports detailing subsequent disbursements, expenditure, vaccination targets, coverage achieved and measures taken to reach underserved communities.

It further questioned the continued engagement of a retired Primary Health Care Board IMPACT Programme Manager, arguing that transparency in staffing and programme management was necessary to ensure effective delivery of the project.

The campaign organisation called on the state government to explain the factors behind the reported outbreak and demonstrate how its immunisation funding and interventions were improving protection for children across Oyo State.