The All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign organisation in Oyo State has questioned the use of about N9.8 billion in World Bank-backed immunisation funding, citing low childhood vaccination coverage and reports of a diphtheria outbreak affecting 16 local government areas.
The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO) called on the state government to account for the funds and explain why Oyo recorded the lowest childhood immunisation coverage among the six South-West states, despite receiving substantial development financing for healthcare interventions.
The organisation’s Director of Media and Publicity, Bisi Oladele, raised the concerns in a statement issued in Ibadan on Tuesday, describing the reported outbreak and its impact on children as an urgent public health issue.
The 16 local government areas reportedly affected are 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.
“The reported outbreak of diphtheria, with the associated concerns about cases and fatalities among children, should be a wake-up call for Oyo,” Oladele said.
“Every child deserves protection against vaccine-preventable diseases, and the government must demonstrate that its immunisation programme is reaching vulnerable communities effectively.”
According to the campaign organisation, figures from the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey and the 2025–2026 survey showed that childhood immunisation coverage in Oyo rose from 51.3 per cent to 55 per cent, an increase of 3.7 percentage points.
It contrasted Oyo’s performance with other South-West states, where coverage reportedly increased from 58.2 to 84.9 per cent in Ekiti, 52.1 to 86 per cent in Lagos, 52.1 to 63.9 per cent in Ogun, 59.8 to 84 per cent in Ondo, and 54.4 to 78.1 per cent in Osun.
Across the region, the organisation said, immunisation coverage rose from 58.2 per cent to 72.5 per cent.
SSACO argued that the figures raised questions about the reach and effectiveness of the immunisation interventions under the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde.
It cited audited financial records showing that Oyo received approximately N9.832 billion in cumulative World Bank/International Development Association funding under the Immunisation Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT) Project as of December 31, 2024.
With a state contribution of N41 million and miscellaneous and interest income of N13.45 million, the organisation put cumulative project receipts at approximately N9.886 billion.
“Billions of Naira in development financing must translate into measurable improvements in public health,” the statement said, adding that the funds should produce tangible benefits for residents.
The campaign organisation also noted that Oyo was the only South-West state among the 12 states participating in the project’s Immunisation Plus component.
It called on the state government to work with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and development partners to contain the reported outbreak and prevent further transmission.
Beyond the immediate response, SSACO demanded the publication of updated project financial and implementation reports, including subsequent disbursements, expenditure by component, vaccination targets, actual coverage and measures to reach underserved communities.
The organisation also questioned the continued engagement of a retired Primary Health Care Board IMPACT Programme Manager, arguing that the scale of the project and concerns over its reported outcomes required transparency in staffing and management.
“Oyo has qualified medical and public-health professionals whose expertise should be effectively deployed to strengthen the system. We must insist on accountability and competent programme management,” it said.
Diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable bacterial infection that commonly affects the nose and throat and can cause breathing difficulties, heart complications and death, particularly when diagnosis and treatment are delayed.
The allegations and funding questions were raised by the APC campaign organisation. The statement did not include a response from the Oyo State Government addressing the claims about immunisation performance or project expenditure.
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