Two new cases of polio have been confirmed in Hadejia and Suletankarkar Local Government Areas of Jigawa State, marking a significant setback for Nigeria, nearly a decade after the country was declared polio-free.
The announcement was made during a media dialogue on polio and routine immunization organized by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Dutse, the state capital.
Speaking on behalf of UNICEF Kano Field Office Chief, Mr. Rahama Rihood Farah, the agency’s Health Manager, Dr. Serekeberehan Seyoum Deres, expressed deep concern over the resurgence of the highly contagious disease. He warned that polio could lead to lifelong paralysis or even death in children if not quickly addressed.
“In 2025 alone, 18 cases of polio have been recorded across nine states and 18 local government areas in Nigeria, including Hadejia and Suletankarkar LGAs of Jigawa. This is unacceptable,”; Dr. Deres stated. “Polio knows no boundaries and spreads quickly. An outbreak in one region puts children everywhere at risk.”;
Dr. Deres emphasized that over 3 billion people have been vaccinated against polio globally since 1988, saving an estimated 154 million lives in the last 50 years. However, he stressed that low routine immunization coverage continues to threaten progress in countries like Nigeria.
UNICEF has called on the Jigawa State Government to declare a State of Emergency on Polio and Routine Immunization, release counterpart funding, and ensure all 27 local government chairmen make similar commitments.
The media, he added, must play a central role in disseminating accurate information to combat myths and misinformation about vaccines. He said Nigeria can eliminate vaccine-preventable diseases if routine immunization is strengthened across all wards, with functional Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in place.
Coinciding with World Immunization Week, Farah urged the Nigerian government to invest in the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to help eradicate cervical cancer alongside polio and measles.
In response to the outbreak, the Executive Secretary of Jigawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (PHCDA), Dr. Sambo, represented by Dr. Hassan Shu’aibu Kwalam, announced the launch of a statewide immunization campaign starting Wednesday, April 24, 2025, and lasting for six days.
The exercise aims to immunize 1.9 million children, with over 2 million doses of vaccines received for the campaign. More than 50,000 ad-hoc staff have been recruited to operate across 3,060 vaccination teams, covering 287 political wards in all 27 LGAs of the state.
To boost community participation, a high-level sensitization meeting was held with traditional and religious leaders, chaired by the Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Muhammad Hamim Nuhu, along with the Emirs of Hadejia and Gumel.
Dr. Shehu Ibrahim, Programme Manager of the State Emergency Routine Immunisation Coordination Centre (SERICC), said the previous campaign in February 2025 missed seven children in Garki, Kaugama, and Maigatari LGAs due to non-compliance, often linked to political distrust and misinformation.
He warned that such attitudes pose a risk not only to unvaccinated children but also to the broader community, stressing the need for political neutrality in health campaigns.
“The success of this campaign will depend on community cooperation, accurate information, and sustained commitment from all levels of government,”; Dr. Shehu stated.
UNICEF and state authorities continue to urge parents, caregivers, and community leaders to ensure all eligible children are vaccinated, to prevent further outbreaks and move closer to a polio-free Nigeria.
