The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to enforce mandatory immunization, testing, and treatment of Nigerians suffering from diphtheria across the 774 local government areas in the country. This resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Mr. Bitrus Laori, the member representing Demsa/Numan/Lamurde Federal Constituency in Adamawa State.
The motion highlighted the dangers posed by diphtheria, a bacterial infection caused by Corynebacterium species that affects the nose, throat, skin, and, in severe cases, the heart. The disease is transmitted through respiratory droplets, contaminated objects, and crowded, unsanitary environments, making its spread particularly rapid among children and those with compromised immune systems.