Abuja, Nigeria, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners, is intensifying efforts to eliminate all forms of polio by 2030 through strong government leadership, community engagement, and targeted vaccination campaigns.
Every year on 24 October, World Polio Day serves as a reminder of the global commitment to eradicate poliomyelitis, a disease that can cause paralysis and, in severe cases, death. Although Nigeria successfully eradicated wild poliovirus in 2020, circulating variant poliovirus type 2 (cVPV2) remains a challenge in some regions. The experiences of survivors such as Hassana Mohammed Bunur from Borno State and Bukar Modu highlight the personal stakes of this fight. Hassana, who contracted polio as a toddler, now uses a wheelchair and advocates for vaccination within her community. Bukar, 45, reflected that had he been vaccinated, his life would have been very different, but he now uses his voice to protect others. Their stories underscore the vital role of immunisation and advocacy in building a polio-free future.
The Nigerian government, through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMOH) and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), continues to provide strong leadership in sustaining the gains made against polio. The country remains committed to halting all poliovirus transmission by 2030, investing in surveillance, routine immunisation, and supplementary immunisation activities (SIAs). Polio vaccination is integrated with broader health initiatives through campaigns and community outreach to reach every eligible child. The 2025 Measles–Rubella and Polio Vaccination Campaign aims to immunise over 106 million children, making it one of Africa’s largest immunisation efforts.
While Nigeria is free of wild poliovirus, cVPV2 cases persist. National surveillance data indicate that as of 20 October 2024, 112 cases were recorded across 15 states, whereas in the same period in 2025, 66 cVPV2 cases were reported from 44 Local Government Areas in 12 states—a 41% reduction, showing progress in interrupting transmission.
WHO and partners under the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) continue to support Nigeria by providing technical assistance for campaign planning, coordinating vaccine delivery to hard-to-reach areas, building capacity among health workers for surveillance and outbreak response, and establishing data review mechanisms to identify gaps and guide corrective actions. These efforts include redeploying vaccination teams to missed settlements, strengthening social mobilisation, adjusting supply chains, and conducting targeted mop-ups to ensure no child is left behind. Partner organisations, including Rotary International, the Gates Foundation, Chigari Foundation, and UNICEF, contribute through microplanning, social mobilisation, surveillance, and evidence-based decision-making.
Across Nigeria, WHO state offices joined government agencies, partners, and communities to commemorate World Polio Day, renewing advocacy for vaccination and strengthened surveillance. In Taraba State, the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Buma Bordiya, reaffirmed the state’s commitment, noting that over 2.3 million children received at least one polio vaccine dose during April and June SIAs. In Gombe, a 3 km awareness walk was held with partners, while in Ebonyi, the Commissioner of Health expressed gratitude to WHO and partners for supporting child vaccination. In Kano, more than 500 participants—including health officials, traditional leaders, and polio survivors—attended a commemorative event, with survivors urging continued advocacy and inclusion in outreach efforts. Other states, including Kwara, Kebbi, Kaduna, and Zamfara, held similar events to reaffirm their dedication to reaching every child.
For survivors like Hassana and Bukar, the fight against polio remains deeply personal. Bukar emphasized that vaccines save lives and that he uses his voice to ensure no other child suffers as he did. Dr. Kofi Boateng, WHO Polio Eradication Programme Cluster Lead, stressed that the virus continues to circulate only because some children remain unvaccinated, and reiterated that the polio vaccine is safe, effective, and essential for every child.
Nigeria’s strong government leadership, resilient communities, and sustained partner collaboration are keeping the country on track toward a polio-free future by 2030—one where every child, everywhere, is protected. Achieving this goal requires continued community participation, timely vaccination, and coordinated action from all stakeholders, with every caregiver, health worker, and partner playing a vital role in ending polio for good.
