The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned that Niger State will faced a heightened risk of polio disease outbreak if proactive measures are not taken.

UNICEF Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) Specialist Kaduna Field Office, Dr Ibrahim Mohamme,  who made this disclosure at a one-day media engagement in Minna over the weekend, stressed that unvaccinated children are particularly exposed.

Dr Mohammed while reviewing the polio situation in neighbouring states of Bauchi, Kebbi, Kwara, Zamfara and Sokoto, stressed the urgency of vaccinating children within the target age group.

According to him, “With the cases in neighbouring states, Niger stands the risk have having polio outbreak if proactive measures are not taken.

“The increasing number of cases in states bordering Niger poses a significant threat to children in the state, particularly those yet to be vaccinated.

“There is no cure for polio, and immunisation remains the most effective way to prevent it”.

The UNICEF then called on parents and guardians to ensure their children are vaccinated in the forthcoming polio immunisation campaign scheduled to commence on Sunday March 29th, 2026.

In his remarks, the State Health Educator, Niger State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Mohammed Usman while disclosing that the exercise will be carried out across all 25 Local Government Areas of Niger State said the programme will help to contain the spread of the disease.

He further explained that full protection requires multiple doses of the vaccine, warning that missed vaccinations could lead to continued transmission of the virus.