NCDC Reports 41,336 Suspected Diphtheria Cases Across Nigeria

• The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported a diphtheria outbreak in the country, with 41,336 suspected cases recorded across 36 states and the FCT.

• The NCDC reported that 24,846 cases (60.1%) were confirmed, while 7,769 (18.8%) were discarded.

• The majority of confirmed cases (63.9%) occurred among children aged one to 14 years.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported a diphtheria outbreak in the country, with 41,336 suspected cases recorded across 36 states and the FCT.

According to the NCDC’s latest data, the cases were reported from 350 local government areas between Epidemiological Week 19, 2022, and Epidemiological Week 4, 2025.

The NCDC reported that 24,846 cases (60.1%) were confirmed, while 7,769 (18.8%) were discarded. The classification of 3,546 cases (8.6%) is pending, while the status of 5,175 cases (12.5%) remains unknown.

“Of the confirmed cases, the majority—15,845 (63.9%)—occurred among children aged one to 14 years, highlighting the disease’s severe impact on younger populations.”

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The agency noted that the outbreak is concentrated in a few states, with Kano leading with 23,784 suspected cases, followed by Yobe (5,302), Katsina (3,708), Bauchi (3,066), Borno (2,902), Kaduna (777), and Jigawa (364). These seven states account for 96.5 per cent of all suspected cases.

The NCDC stressed the importance of vaccination in combating the disease. “With the majority of cases occurring in children, strengthening immunisation efforts remains critical.

“Public health campaigns, improved surveillance, and rapid response initiatives are being deployed, particularly in the hardest-hit states,” it stated.

NDDC: Federal High Court Reinstates Pondei-Led Interim

The Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) led by Prof. Daniel Pondei,
has been reinstated by a Federal High Court in Abuja.

The court said there was no time it ever sacked the Pondei-led IMC striking out the lawsuit against the IMC by the Incorporated Trustees of Forum for Accountability and Good Governance on January 13, 2021.

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