Nigeria’s efforts to interrupt circulating variant type 2 poliovirus (cVPV2) by 2026 gained renewed momentum following the World Health Organization (WHO) Polio Eradication Programme’s annual strategic retreat held in Abuja. The two-day meeting brought together WHO zonal and state coordinators to review progress, identify operational gaps, and refine strategies to better support government-led eradication efforts. The retreat reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to aligning its technical support with the National Polio Emergency Action Plan and the priorities of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, which leads Nigeria’s polio eradication programme.
Opening the retreat, WHO Deputy Representative Dr. Alex Chimbaru emphasized the importance of ensuring that WHO’s work remains fully aligned with national frameworks and government leadership. He highlighted that WHO’s role is to provide targeted technical guidance, evidence, and operational support to close remaining immunity gaps and strengthen systems that protect children. The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Muyi Aina, reaffirmed the federal government’s resolve to end polio, stressing that WHO’s technical expertise remains a critical pillar in achieving a polio-free Nigeria. Global Polio Eradication Initiative partners also reiterated their continued support for Nigeria’s eradication efforts.
Despite notable progress, cVPV2 continues to circulate in areas with low immunity, driven by insecurity, population movement, and missed children during vaccination campaigns. Participants underscored that interrupting transmission by 2026 is essential to protect Nigeria’s certification as free of wild poliovirus and to prevent future outbreaks that could reverse gains made over the past decade.
By week 50 of 2025, Nigeria recorded a 35 percent decrease in cVPV2 detections compared to the same period in 2024, reflecting significant improvements in campaign quality and reach. Vaccination non-compliance declined, overall coverage improved, and more settlements, including those in border and hard-to-reach areas, were successfully accessed. The number of previously unreached children declined sharply, and many communities that had earlier remained inaccessible to vaccination teams were brought into routine campaign coverage.
WHO state teams shared field-level innovations that will inform planning for 2026, including targeted surveillance approaches to detect isolated virus signals, precision mapping to reach previously inaccessible settlements, and community-based strategies that helped reduce hesitancy and improve coverage in both stable and security-affected areas. Participants noted that these practical lessons demonstrate how tailored, data-driven approaches can close remaining immunity gaps.
Participants welcomed the retreat’s emphasis on results-based management, noting that the focus on measurable outcomes has strengthened accountability and renewed motivation across teams. Zonal and state coordinators expressed confidence that the refined strategies and clearer alignment with national priorities have set the stage for stopping poliovirus transmission by 2026.
Looking ahead, the retreat produced a clear roadmap to guide WHO’s support over the coming months, emphasizing stronger government leadership, operational precision, improved accountability, efficient use of available resources, and locally tailored action plans that reflect regional realities. As Nigeria advances toward its 2026 target, participants agreed that ending cVPV2 transmission is achievable through strong leadership, sustained community engagement, and coordinated partner support.
In closing, WHO leadership highlighted the need for enhanced data-driven decision-making, including the establishment of a technical hub for advanced risk analysis and a renewed focus on high-quality campaign delivery and surveillance. The retreat concluded with a collective commitment from WHO coordinators to implement the agreed strategies and remain accountable for field performance, while acknowledging the vital role of donor support in sustaining Nigeria’s polio eradication efforts.
