The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has expressed concern over the increasing resistance to polio vaccination in parts of Northwest Nigeria, warning that the trend could jeopardize the country’s efforts to completely eradicate the disease. UNICEF revealed that around 3,000 households in Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara States recently rejected polio vaccines for their children during the latest immunization exercise.
Speaking at a press briefing to mark the 2025 World Polio Day, UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office in Sokoto, Michael Juma, described the development as a serious setback to Nigeria’s drive to maintain its polio-free status. He noted that although vaccination coverage had improved significantly across the three states, vaccine hesitancy in some communities remained a major concern that must be addressed through stronger community engagement and advocacy.
“We have just concluded an integrated campaign for polio, measles-rubella, and HPV, reaching about 5.3 million children across Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara States, a remarkable milestone,” Juma said. “But the key challenge is ensuring that no child is denied protection due to misinformation or parental refusal.”
Juma explained that UNICEF, working with state governments and development partners, is adopting new strategies to combat vaccine hesitancy. These include closer collaboration with traditional rulers, religious leaders, and other trusted community figures to foster confidence and acceptance of immunization.
While commending the state governments for their strong political will and active disease surveillance, he emphasized the need to intensify the fight against misinformation, particularly in remote and resistant communities.
He also urged journalists to support public awareness campaigns through factual and consistent reporting, noting that the media plays a critical role in shaping public perception, dispelling false information, and promoting vaccine uptake.
Juma further highlighted the importance of youth involvement in community health programs, stressing that youth advocacy is crucial in sustaining positive attitudes toward immunization. “Polio is a preventable disease when communities unite,” he added.
In his remarks, the Sokoto State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Faruk Abubakar Wurno, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to keeping the state polio-free. He said the World Polio Day celebration served as a reminder to continue protecting every child from preventable diseases.
Dr. Wurno noted that the recent vaccination exercise in Sokoto achieved impressive results, with 19 out of the state’s 23 local government areas recording over 90 percent coverage.
“We have achieved significant progress, but our goal is to reach 100 percent,” he stated.
He, however, cautioned that Sokoto’s proximity to border areas posed a continuing risk of cross-border virus transmission. To tackle this, he said the state had strengthened surveillance systems and border health posts.
The commissioner also announced that 209 midwives had been deployed to 109 primary healthcare centers, and a mandatory two-year rural posting policy for new health workers had been introduced to enhance healthcare delivery at the grassroots level.
