Nigeria is intensifying its efforts to eradicate all forms of poliovirus by the end of 2025. With technical support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners, the government, through the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC), has launched rapid surveillance assessments (RSAs) to enhance the capacity to detect suspected poliovirus cases quickly and guide vaccination responses. These assessments strengthen state and community-level systems, close surveillance gaps, and align with the Polio Eradication Roadmap 2022–2026.
Between 23 and 29 August, Jigawa State conducted its first RSA, covering five Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 14 health facilities, including major hospitals. The assessment engaged 24 community informants and followed up 12 cases of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) to validate reporting sensitivity. The exercise confirmed strong coordination, extensive grassroots networks, and the active role of community health workers, Village Health Workers, CHIPS Agents, and Volunteer Community Mobilizers in case detection.
State officials emphasized that the RSA provided an evidence-based picture of surveillance capacity, enabling corrective actions to ensure no suspected case goes undetected. For local health workers, the assessment reinforced their critical role in reporting potential poliovirus cases promptly, strengthening community protection.
While the assessment highlighted strong structures, it also identified gaps requiring attention, such as the need to expand active case searches, enhance environmental surveillance, and address immunity gaps. Epidemiologists noted that the findings offer practical solutions to improve detection, reporting, and response to suspected cases.
At the national level, Nigeria continues to face risks from circulating variant poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2), even after being certified free of wild poliovirus in 2020. WHO and government experts stressed that robust surveillance is central to achieving eradication, guiding data-driven decisions, and ensuring rapid vaccination responses. Lessons learned from Jigawa will inform similar assessments and corrective measures in other states.
Building on Jigawa’s example, RSAs are planned for Borno, Katsina, Lagos, Sokoto, and Zamfara between October and December 2025. This nationwide rollout aims to strengthen surveillance capacity, expand outbreak response readiness, and support Nigeria in achieving its eradication targets, while sustaining Africa’s polio-free status. The activity is supported by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) partners, including WHO, UNICEF, AFENET, Rotary International, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Gavi.
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