The Sokoto State Government and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have renewed their joint resolve to wipe out poliovirus from Nigeria’s northwest region, pledging to reach every unvaccinated child as the world marked World Polio Day 2025.
Speaking at the commemoration in Sokoto on Friday, Mr. Michael Juma, UNICEF Chief of Field Office for Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara States, described the fight against polio as ‘one we must finish together.’
‘We’ve just completed an integrated campaign for polio, measles, rubella, and HPV reaching about 5.3 million children across three states, that’s an impressive 120 percent coverage,’ Juma said.
‘But around 3,000 households remain non-compliant. We must now intensify community mobilization, engage trusted local voices, and sustain political support to reach them.’
Juma commended the Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara governments for maintaining active surveillance systems and strong political will – with deputy governors personally chairing the state polio task forces.
He also urged the media to play a stronger role in countering vaccine misinformation.
‘Accurate reporting builds public trust and ensures every child under five receives life-saving vaccines,’ he said.
To mark the day, UNICEF hosted a youth advocacy football match featuring polio survivors, using sport to raise awareness about the power of vaccination. ‘Polio is preventable,’ Juma reminded the crowd, ‘but only if we act together.’
In his remarks, Dr. Abubakar Faruku Wurno, Sokoto State Commissioner for Health, said the event was ‘a moment of reflection and renewed determination’ to sustain the state’s polio-free status.
He disclosed that Sokoto surpassed its immunisation target in the recent campaign, vaccinating 1.57 million children against a target of 1.4 million a 160 percent coverage rate.
‘This feat was achieved through the leadership of Governor Ahmad Aliyu, timely release of counterpart funds, and the unwavering support of partners like WHO, UNICEF, and APIN,’ he said.
Dr. Wurno revealed that 19 out of 23 local government areas achieved over 90 percent coverage, urging the remaining four Bodinga, Shagari, Sokoto South, and Wamakko to step up their efforts.
He warned, however, that Sokoto’s proximity to border communities still poses the risk of cross-border infection and stressed the need for ‘continuous vigilance and strong routine immunization.’
To strengthen manpower, the commissioner announced the deployment of 209 qualified midwives to 109 primary healthcare centers 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,’ he declared. ‘Together with our partners and community leaders, we can end polio for good.’
World Polio Day, marked every October 24, celebrates progress toward global eradication and highlights the importance of vaccination.
This year’s theme , ‘A Healthy Future for Every Child: Let’s End Polio Together’, calls for renewed global solidarity to finish the fight once and for all.