From Muhammad Gazali Garba
Sokoto State Governor, Dr Ahmed Aliyu, has officially launched the 2026 Outbreak Response Immunisation Campaign against poliovirus at the Gidan Igwai Primary Health Care Centre in Sokoto North Local Government Area, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to protecting children and eradicating preventable diseases across the state.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, the Governor directed that commissioners be deployed across all 23 local government areas to supervise and monitor the exercise, ensuring effective implementation at the grassroots level.Governor Aliyu said the state government has made adequate provisions to ensure that no child is left unprotected against poliovirus and other vaccine-preventable diseases, stressing that the campaign reflects his administration’s determination to sustain the gains recorded in polio eradication efforts.
He also stated that he personally intends to visit some communities and local government areas to monitor the implementation of the exercise and ensure that the vaccination campaign is properly carried out, demonstrating his commitment to effective grassroots governance.The Governor commended the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for its sustained efforts in strengthening Nigeria’s health sector. He noted that ongoing federal interventions in primary healthcare, disease prevention, and immunisation support have significantly improved public health outcomes across the country, including Sokoto State.
He disclosed that 2,830 ad-hoc staff have been recruited for house-to-house vaccination across the 244 wards of the state, while 488 personnel were deployed to hard-to-reach and insecurity-affected communities.
An additional 3,151 personnel were also strategically assigned to ensure wider coverage and effective implementation of the exercise.Governor Aliyu urged parents and guardians to cooperate fully with vaccination teams to ensure that all children under the age of five receive the vaccine, stressing that the oral polio vaccine is safe, effective, and essential for child survival.He also warned individuals or groups planning to sabotage the exercise to desist, noting that anyone found culpable would be decisively dealt with in accordance with the law. He further directed local government chairmen, traditional rulers, and Islamic scholars (Ulamas) to intensify sensitisation campaigns on the dangers of refusing immunisation.Earlier, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Faruk Umar Abubakar, described the campaign as a critical public health intervention aimed at protecting children from poliomyelitis and other vaccine-preventable diseases.He explained that despite significant progress in polio eradication, sustained vigilance and coordinated efforts remain essential to ensure that no child is left unvaccinated. According to him, this year’s campaign has been carefully coordinated to guarantee effective coverage across all communities, including hard-to-reach and underserved areas.Dr Abubakar added that improved logistics, strategic planning, and the deployment of trained health personnel have been prioritised to ensure the success of the exercise. He called on parents and caregivers to present their children for vaccination, emphasizing that the vaccine is safe, free, and highly effective.He also urged community leaders, religious scholars, and other stakeholders to support the campaign through advocacy and sensitisation to ensure full participation.In his goodwill message, the Chairman of Sokoto North Local Government Area, Hon. Jamilu Umar Gosta, commended the state government for its proactive efforts in safeguarding children’s health.
He described the campaign as timely and vital for securing a healthy future for the younger generation.Hon. Gosta pledged the full support of the local government in mobilising communities and raising awareness to ensure successful implementation at the grassroots level. He said the council has engaged ward heads, district heads, and community volunteers to work closely with vaccination teams to ensure that every household in Sokoto North is reached.
Representatives of development partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA),among others expressed continued support for the Sokoto State Government. They commended the state’s coordinated outbreak response strategy, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, community engagement, and data-driven approaches in achieving the total eradication of poliovirus.
They also assured continued technical, logistical, and capacity-building support to strengthen immunisation efforts across the state.In his remarks, the representative of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Kabiru Chigari, Sarkin Sudan of Wurno, urged parents and caregivers to fully embrace the immunisation exercise in the interest of their children and society at large.He highlighted the crucial role of traditional institutions in supporting public health initiatives and community mobilisation, assuring the continued support of the Sultanate Council in sensitising the public and encouraging compliance with vaccination campaigns.
