Obiademoh & The Diphtheria Crisis: Nigeria’s Preventable Tragedy
Investigative & Human-Focused
A Life Cut Short: Obiademoh’s Story
TWELVE-YEAR-OLD Obiademoh (not his real name) was a vibrant boy with a passion for soccer and tinkering with gadgets. His dream of becoming an engineer was suddenly shattered on 22 February 2025, when he developed a sore throat and fever while at King’s College, Victoria Island Annex, Lagos. Laboratory tests confirmed he had contracted diphtheria, a preventable bacterial disease. Despite prompt medical care, including antibiotics and diphtheria antitoxin serum at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Obiademoh succumbed to myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle. Several other students were hospitalized as suspected cases, leaving parents devastated and fearful.
Obiademoh’s death was not isolated. Across Lagos State, multiple local government areas—including Eti-Osa, Alimosho, Kosofe, and Mushin—reported confirmed diphtheria cases, primarily linked to schools. The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, confirmed 10 laboratory-positive cases from King’s College, Lagos State Model School in Alimosho, De-Emmaculate School in Mile 12, and other institutions.
In Imo State, ten children died in Mbutu Community, prompting the immediate closure of schools. In May 2025, two children in Tukur-Tukur Community, Zaria, Kaduna State, died within 48 hours of infection. Overall, Nigeria recorded 884 deaths from diphtheria between January and November 2025, the highest in Africa, with 12,150 suspected cases and 8,587 confirmed.
Diphtheria: A Preventable Risk
Diphtheria, caused by Corynebacterium species, primarily affects the throat, nose, and occasionally the skin. The disease is preventable through the diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine, yet Nigeria remains home to one of the highest populations of unvaccinated children globally. Public health experts warn that recurring outbreaks and high fatality rates are largely due to low immunisation coverage and misinformation.
Prof. Tanimola Akande, Public Health Physician at the University of Ilorin, emphasised that proactive vaccination campaigns are crucial. Parents must ensure their children receive the three recommended doses of the pentavalent vaccine. Child health advocate Mrs. Helen Orji condemned both parental negligence and government failures, saying, “Schools should nurture dreams, not become a slaughter slab for promising children.”
Calls for Urgent Action
Experts stress that Nigeria’s diphtheria crisis requires strengthened health systems, enhanced surveillance, and robust community engagement. Dr. Jonathan Esegine, a General Physician, highlighted the importance of routine immunisation and public sensitisation to prevent outbreaks. Timely risk communication is equally critical, as delayed or opaque messaging can fuel panic and misinformation.
The Lagos State government has intensified immunisation efforts, adopting a multi-sectoral approach involving the Ministry of Education, local authorities, religious and traditional leaders, and community associations. Dr. Ibrahim Mustafa, Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, noted, “Preparedness allows for rapid response when an emergency strikes.”
With coordinated vaccination campaigns, improved public awareness, and enforcement of school safety protocols, Nigeria can mitigate future diphtheria outbreaks and protect vulnerable children. But as Obiademoh’s story illustrates, every delay in action has a human cost.
