Alli questions Oyo’s ₦9.8bn immunisation funds amid alleged diphtheria outbreak
By Adejayan Gbenga
The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State has questioned the management of about ₦9.8 billion in World Bank-supported immunisation funds received by the state amid reports of a diphtheria outbreak in 16 local government areas.
The organisation’s Director of Media and Publicity Bisi Oladele raised the concerns in a statement issued in Ibadan on Tuesday. He expressed worry over reported infections and deaths among children, urging the state government to take urgent measures to contain the outbreak and prevent further transmission.
According to the organisation, the affected local government areas are Atisbo, Ibadan North-West, Oyo West, Akinyele, Saki, Egbeda, Oriire, Ibadan North, Ibadan South-West, Iwajowa, Ona-Ara, Atiba, Ogbomosho North, Surulere and Oluyole. Oladele described the outbreak as a wake-up call, stressing the need to strengthen immunisation programmes and ensure that vulnerable communities receive adequate protection.
The campaign organisation also criticised Oyo State’s childhood immunisation performance, citing figures it said placed the state at the bottom of the six South-West states. It said coverage increased from 51.3 per cent in the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey to 55 per cent in the 2025–2026 survey, representing a rise of 3.7 percentage points.
By comparison, the organisation said immunisation coverage in Ekiti rose 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. It added that regional coverage increased from 58.2 to 72.5 per cent, raising questions about the effectiveness of interventions under Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration.
Citing audited financial records, the organisation said Oyo received approximately ₦9.832 billion in cumulative funding from the World Bank and the International Development Association under the Immunisation Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services Project as of December 31, 2024. It added that the state’s contribution of ₦41 million, alongside miscellaneous and interest income of ₦13.45 million, brought total cumulative receipts to approximately ₦9.886 billion.
Against this backdrop, the organisation called on the state’s director of public health to explain the factors behind the outbreak and account for the funds allocated to immunisation and disease prevention. It also urged the government to collaborate 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 infections.
Beyond the immediate response, the organisation demanded the publication of updated project financial and implementation reports detailing subsequent disbursements, expenditure, vaccination targets and actual coverage achieved. It also questioned the continued engagement of a retired Primary Health Care Board IMPACT Programme manager, arguing that transparency, accountability and competent programme management were essential to ensuring that public health funding translated into measurable improvements.
