By Aminu Abubakar

States in Northern Nigeria are facing a worsening public health emergency as an outbreak of diphtheria, a deadly bacterial disease, continues to claim lives and infect thousands across the region.

A review of data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) shows that the outbreak, which began in 2022, has significantly impacted several states, with Kano, Yobe, Bauchi, Katsina, and Borno recording the highest number of cases and deaths.

According to the NCDC, between 2022 and May 2025, Kano State alone recorded 24,415 suspected diphtheria cases, with 18,284 cases confirmed. The state has suffered 860 deaths from the outbreak, making it the hardest hit so far.

In Yobe State, health authorities confirmed 2,411 cases, with 109 deaths. Bauchi followed with 2,334 confirmed cases and 104 deaths. In Katsina State, there were 1,610 confirmed cases and 132 deaths, while Borno State recorded 1,166 confirmed cases and 69 fatalities.

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The NCDC describes diphtheria as “a serious bacterial infection caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, which produces toxins that affect the nose, throat, and sometimes the skin.” It can cause severe respiratory issues, heart failure, paralysis, and, in many cases, death if not promptly treated.

On July 8, 2025, Bello Jamoh, Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Primary Healthcare Board, confirmed that the state had been battling the outbreak for the past 10 months, with cases dating back to October 2024. In Zaria, at least three children have died and six others have been infected in a fresh wave of suspected diphtheria cases.

Despite the continued spread, this disease is not new. In March 2023, Salma Suwaid, the Diphtheria Case Manager for Kano State, revealed that 61 people had died from the disease in the state at the time. Since then, the death toll has sharply risen, indicating a systemic failure in containment and prevention.

Public health experts have consistently emphasized that good hygiene and immunization are critical in preventing the spread of diphtheria. However, the stark reality in many Northern states is that access to basic sanitary facilities is alarmingly poor—posing a major hurdle to disease prevention efforts.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) paints a bleak picture. In Bauchi State, 65% of households lack access to sanitary facilities. The situation is similar in Borno (47%), Gombe (75%), Kaduna (73%), Kano (51%), and Katsina (61%). These conditions make the population highly vulnerable to infectious diseases, especially among children and the elderly.

The outbreak is further compounded by chronic underinvestment in primary healthcare across these states. Budget implementation data reveals a disturbing pattern of poor utilization of allocated healthcare funds.

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In 2023, Kano State earmarked ₦4.1 billion for capital expenditures under its Primary Healthcare Development Board but ended up spending zero naira by year-end.

In 2024, despite budgeting ₦3.8 billion, only ₦855.6 million was spent. In the current year, 2025, Kano budgeted a significant ₦11.4 billion, yet only ₦171.5 million was released and spent between January and March—a mere 1.5% of the allocated amount.

Other states reveal similar trends. In 2025, Bauchi State allocated ₦15.9 billion to its Primary Healthcare Development Agency but spent only ₦2.3 billion within the first quarter. Katsina State, with a budget of ₦5.9 billion, had disbursed just ₦178.8 million in the same period.

Over time, public health analysts have warned that without urgent interventions—including increased budget releases, improved vaccination coverage, and massive investment in sanitation infrastructure—diphtheria and similar outbreaks may become the norm rather than the exception in Northern Nigeria.

For now, the human cost continues to mount, with thousands infected and families grieving across the region.

There are calls for a better health system to tackle the disease outbreaks that have now made many families casualties and thousands have lost hope of survival.