RismadarVoice Reporters, February 11, 2026
Sokoto State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating the circulation of Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus Type 2 (VDPV2), intensifying vaccination, surveillance and community mobilisation efforts to interrupt transmission by 2026.
Governor Ahmed Aliyu made the pledge on Tuesday during a high-level meeting with the President of Global Development at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Dr Chris Elias, at the Government House in Sokoto.
Nigeria was certified wild polio-free in 2020.
However, outbreaks of vaccine-derived poliovirus have persisted in parts of the country, particularly in northern states, largely due to low routine immunization coverage, population movement and vaccine hesitancy. Sokoto remains one of the priority states under the National Polio Emergency Action Plan.
Aliyu said his administration had adopted new strategies aimed at closing immunity gaps and protecting vulnerable children, especially those in hard-to-reach communities.
“Our goal is very clear: to interrupt the transmission of Poliovirus Type 2 and end its circulation in Sokoto State. We are strengthening our vaccination campaigns, improving surveillance and engaging communities more effectively to ensure no child is left behind,” the Governor said.
He disclosed that the state government had released its 2024 Routine Immunisation Memorandum of Understanding counterpart fund and pledged timely payments in subsequent years to ensure sustainability of immunisation programmes.
“We understand that political commitment and timely funding are critical. That is why we have honoured our counterpart funding obligations and will continue to do so,” he added.
To strengthen immunisation logistics, the Governor said the state had procured deep freezers, power generators and motorcycles to enhance cold-chain management and improve access to remote settlements.
Beyond polio eradication, Aliyu called for the extension of the Primary Health Care Memorandum of Understanding with development partners and sought additional support to reduce maternal and infant mortality in the state.
He revealed that the government had recruited 1,500 nurses and midwives in the past two years to address manpower shortages in public health facilities, particularly at the primary healthcare level.
The state has also introduced a mandatory two-year rural posting for health workers, including medical doctors, to ensure equitable healthcare access.
