Africa (Commonwealth Union) _ Nigeria is making great progress in its new battle against the polio virus, although the existence of a vaccine-derived strain in the North west remains a concern, Gombe State Governor Inuwa Yahaya has stated.
Speaking to State House correspondents after Thursday’s National Economic Council (NEC) meeting chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Yahaya said interventions brought onboard in recent times were yielding results. He added the National Committee on Polio Eradication launched in December 2023, was having regular strategy meetings to keep track of progress.
Nigeria was announced wild poliovirus-free in 2020, and the war then turned to preventing circulating vaccine-derived strains concentrated mainly in Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara. “As of the 33rd epidemiology week in 2024, Nigeria had 78 reported cases. “That figure has now dropped to 42, with a clear drop,” Yahaya recorded. He further stated that Kano and Katsina witnessed strong declines of 65% and 84%, respectively, with Gombe having none. Sokoto, however, remains the hotbed, having reported more than half the nation’s cases so far in 2025.
He mentioned significant progress in vaccination and surveillance. Geospatially located settlements increased from 71% in April to 78% by June, while vaccination coverage enhanced from 81% to 84%. The first round of in-between campaigns had reached 77% of the targeted settlements, immunising 2.7 million children and providing 83% coverage. Integrated services such as nutrition supplementation for pregnant women, malaria kits, and maternal-child health interventions were also initiated to establish community trust.
The second phase of the campaign begins September 11–14 with a second immunisation round in 11 high-risk states and an October nationwide immunisation campaign covering children aged 0–14 years old with measles, rubella, polio, and malaria vaccines, as well as treatment for neglected tropical diseases in two parts.
To ensure efficient delivery, deputy governors will be mandated to lead state task force meetings before each round, while commissioners for health and chairmen of local governments will lead post-campaign mop-ups and grassroots mobilisation. Yahaya neither called on the security agencies to provide security cover for health workers operating in crisis areas nor asked the Accountant General to advance the disbursement of funds for primary healthcare.
“Eliminating polio remains a national priority,” he said. “With sustained effort, proper resources, and strong security cover, Nigeria can wipe out this disease forever.”.
