The House of Representatives on Wednesday mandated the Federal Ministry of Education to take immediate and decisive measures to strengthen health and safety protocols in all Federal Unity Colleges, with particular attention to addressing the situation at King’s College following the outbreak of diphtheria in the institution.
The resolution was passed following the adoption of a motion sponsored by the Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Akin Rotimi, who solicited for the House’s intervention.
In his lead debate, Rep. Rotimi expressed deep concern over the outbreak of diphtheria in the boarding house of King’s College, Victoria Island Annexe, a federal government-owned institution, which has regrettably resulted in the demise of a 12-year-old student and the hospitalisation of several others.
“The House also notes that from week 19 of 2022 to week 04 of 2025, there were 24,804 confirmed cases of diphtheria across 25 states in Nigeria, according to data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Weekly Diphtheria Situation Report of 26 January 2025.
“The House is concerned that out of the 24,804 confirmed cases reported in the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Weekly Diphtheria Situation Report of 26 January 2025, there were 1,269 fatalities across 18 states, with some states having as high as 80-83% Case Fatality Rate (CFR).
“The House is also concerned that this unfortunate incident exposes significant lapses in infection prevention and control (IPC) measures in Federal Unity Colleges and underscores the Federal Ministry of Education’s responsibility to ensure the health and safety of students in its institutions.
“The House acknowledges the prompt intervention of the Lagos State Government in activating an Emergency Operations Committee (EOC), isolating and treating affected students, and initiating a mass vaccination campaign to contain the spread of the disease.
“The House recognises the collaborative efforts of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and Lagos State in managing the crisis while emphasising the need for a comprehensive and proactive nationwide strategy for health and safety in schools.”
To this end, the House mandated the joint Committees on Health and Basic Education to engage with relevant agencies, including the NCDC, to assess and enhance infection prevention and emergency response measures in federal schools.
The lawmakers also tasked the Federal Ministry of Health, the NPHCDA, and the NCDC to intensify diphtheria vaccination and awareness campaigns in schools across the country to prevent future outbreaks.
Hence, the House directed the Federal Ministry of Education to undertake an urgent and comprehensive review of health infrastructure in Unity Colleges and establish a clear and effective framework for responding to infectious disease outbreaks in educational institutions.
In line with legislative practice, the House mandated the NCDC to establish and implement a structured disease surveillance system within all federal unity colleges to ensure early detection and rapid response to infectious disease outbreaks.
Meanwhile, the House commended the Lagos State Government, the NCDC, and other health authorities for their swift and commendable response and encouraged continued collaboration between federal and state agencies to safeguard the health and well-being of students.
The House also urged the Federal Government to provide appropriate compensation to the family of the deceased student, in recognition of the tragic loss suffered and the duty of care owed to students in federal institutions.
Saddened by the development, the lawmakers observed a moment of silence in honour of the deceased student and extended heartfelt condolences to his family and the King’s College community.
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