The All Progressives Congress (APC) has called into question how Oyo State has spent N9.8 billion earmarked for immunisation after a diphtheria outbreak struck 16 local government areas (LGAs) across the state.
The outbreak prompted the state government to mobilise the funds for vaccine procurement and public health outreach, but APC campaigners argue that vaccination coverage remains insufficient to contain the disease.
Officials in Oyo say the money was directed toward purchasing diphtheria vaccines and conducting immunisation drives in the affected LGAs, though they have not released a detailed breakdown of the expenditures.
In response, the APC has demanded a review of how the N9.8 billion was spent and has urged the state to improve coverage rates to prevent further outbreaks.
Diphtheria is a vaccine‑preventable disease that can cause severe respiratory complications. Outbreaks in regions with low immunisation rates often signal gaps in public health delivery.
The dispute highlights the importance of transparent use of public health funds and the need for robust vaccination programmes to protect communities from preventable diseases.
<small>Source: Punch Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>