The Kano State House of Assembly has urged Governor Abba Yusuf to urgently intervene in a diphtheria outbreak that has reportedly killed more than 50 children in Rano Local Government Area of the state.
The lawmakers passed the resolution during Tuesday’s plenary after adopting a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Ibrahim Muhammad, representing Rano Constituency.
Moving the motion, Muhammad said the outbreak was particularly severe in the Ridin and Sabuwar Kaura communities of Rano, where more than 50 children had reportedly died from the disease.
“Although emergency measures had been taken, including the purchase of medication and deployment of health workers to the affected communities, further intervention is needed to contain the outbreak,” Muhammad said.
He called on the state government to provide additional emergency support to the affected communities, noting that a previous diphtheria outbreak in the area in 2025 had also claimed several lives.
“We want to inform the governor and the commissioner for health to send further emergency aid to the region because the disease has spread heavily in that area,” he said.
Supporting the motion, Usman Tasiu, representing Kiru Constituency, said the outbreak had spread beyond Rano to communities in Kiru, including Kwarin Dangora, Dangora town and Yelwa.
Tasiu said a youth leader of the All Progressives Congress in Kiru town lost two children to the disease within a single day.
He called for the establishment of an emergency committee to coordinate efforts to contain the outbreak across affected local government areas, including Rano, Tudun Wada, Kibiya, Bunkure, Bebeji and Kiru.
Similarly, Saleh Ahmad, representing Dawakin Tofa Constituency, urged the government to intensify vaccination and other preventive measures.
Ahmad warned that diphtheria is contagious and could spread rapidly to neighbouring communities if urgent measures are not taken.
The majority leader, Lawan Husseini, called on the state government to activate the state’s health protection law to contain the outbreak.
He said the legislation empowers the government to provide emergency relief and free healthcare, as well as isolate affected areas and restrict movement where necessary to control infectious diseases.
Diphtheria is a bacterial infection caused by Corynebacterium species that primarily affects the nose and throat and can sometimes affect the skin. Symptoms may include fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, red eyes, neck swelling and difficulty breathing.
The lawmakers unanimously adopted the motion after Speaker Ismail Falgore subjected it to a voice vote.
Boluwatife Enome
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