…Tasks Commissioners On Statewide Monitoring
Sokoto State Governor, Dr Ahmed Aliyu, has officially launched the 2026 Outbreak Response Immunisation Campaign against poliovirus.
The campaign, held at Gidan Igwai Primary Health Care Centre in Sokoto North Local Government Area, reaffirms his administration’s commitment to protecting children and eradicating preventable diseases across the state.
At the flag-off ceremony, Governor Aliyu directed commissioners to be deployed across all 23 local government areas to supervise and monitor the exercise, ensuring effective implementation at the grassroots level.
He said the state government has made adequate provisions to ensure 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.
Governor Aliyu also stated that he intends to visit some communities and local government areas to monitor the implementation of the exercise and ensure the vaccination campaign is properly carried out, demonstrating his commitment to effective grassroots governance.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for its sustained efforts in strengthening Nigeria’s health sector, noting 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 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 warned individuals or groups planning to sabotage the exercise to desist, noting that anyone found culpable would be decisively dealt with according to the law.
He directed local government chairmen, traditional rulers, and Islamic scholars (Ulamas) to intensify sensitisation campaigns on the dangers of refusing immunisation.
Earlier, 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 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 deployment of trained health personnel have been prioritised to ensure the exercise’s success.
He called on parents and caregivers to present their children for vaccination, emphasising that the vaccine is safe, free, and highly effective.
In a goodwill message, Chairman of Sokoto North Local Government Area, Hon. Jamilu Umar Gosta, commended the state government for its proactive efforts in safeguarding children’s health, describing the campaign as timely and vital for securing a healthy future for the younger generation.
Representatives of development partners, including WHO, UNICEF, and NPHCDA, expressed continued support for the Sokoto State Government, commending the state’s coordinated outbreak response strategy.
The representative of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Kabiru Chigari, Sarkin Sudan of Wurno, urged parents and caregivers to fully embrace the immunisation exercise, highlighting the crucial role of traditional institutions in supporting public health initiatives.
