The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Sokoto State Government have reaffirmed their commitment to eradicating the poliovirus in Nigeria’s northwest region, pledging renewed efforts to reach every unvaccinated child.
The pledge was made on Friday in Sokoto during the commemoration of World Polio Day 2025, themed “A Healthy Future for Every Child: Let’s End Polio Together.”
UNICEF Chief of Field Office for Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara States, Michael Juma, said the agency and its partners have made “tremendous progress” in vaccination coverage but must “leave no child behind.”
“We’ve just completed an integrated polio, measles, rubella, and HPV campaign, reaching about 5.3 million children across the three states — that’s a remarkable 120 percent coverage,” Juma said.
He acknowledged, however, that about 3,000 households remain non-compliant, emphasizing the need for stronger community mobilization and trusted local engagement to close the gap. Juma commended the Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara governments for their “strong political commitment and active surveillance systems,” noting that deputy governors chair the state polio task forces to ensure rapid response to potential outbreaks.
Juma also urged the media to intensify efforts in countering misinformation, stressing that accurate reporting helps build public trust and ensures that “every child under five receives life-saving vaccines.”
To mark the event, UNICEF hosted a youth advocacy football match in Sokoto featuring polio survivors, aimed at raising awareness about immunization. “It’s a reminder that polio is preventable — but only if we act together,” Juma added.
Sokoto State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Faruku Wurno, described the day as one of “reflection and renewed determination” to sustain a polio-free status. He said the state exceeded its target of 1.4 million children in the last immunization campaign, vaccinating 1.57 million — a 160 percent achievement.
Wurno attributed the success to Governor Ahmad Aliyu’s leadership, timely release of counterpart funding, provision of new cold chain equipment, and support from partners including WHO, UNICEF, and APIN. He noted that 19 of the state’s 23 local governments achieved over 90 percent coverage, while four — Bodinga, Shagari, Sokoto South, and Wamakko — must “redouble their efforts.”
He cautioned that Sokoto’s proximity to border communities still poses a risk of cross-border transmission and called for continuous vigilance and sustained routine immunization. The commissioner also announced the deployment of 209 qualified midwives to 109 primary healthcare centres and the enforcement of a two-year rural posting policy for new health workers.
“Our goal is simple: protect every child, strengthen our communities, and keep Sokoto polio-free,” Wurno said. “Together with our partners, traditional and religious leaders, and the media, we can end polio for good.”
