By Charles Pemu 
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has expressed deep concern over a rising tide of resistance to polio vaccination in parts of Northwest Nigeria, warning that this trend severely threatens the nation’s efforts to maintain its polio-free status.
Speaking on the occasion of the 2025 World Polio Day, UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office in Sokoto, Mr. Michael Juma, disclosed a major setback:
- 3,000 households in Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara States recently refused to allow their children to be vaccinated during the just-concluded immunisation exercise.
Key Highlights from the UNICEF Briefing
| Metric | Detail | Significance |
| Households Refusing | About 3,000 | Major setback, highlighting persistent vaccine hesitancy. |
| States Affected | Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara | Geographic cluster requiring urgent, targeted intervention. |
| Recent Coverage | 5.3 million children reached | Remarkable milestone in the integrated polio, measles-rubella, and HPV campaign. |
| Root Cause Cited | Misinformation and Parental Refusal | Requires stronger community engagement and grassroots advocacy. |
Mr. Juma emphasized that while political commitment and active disease surveillance are commendable, the persistent refusal in some communities requires a revamped approach. UNICEF, in collaboration with state governments and partners, is developing new strategies focused on:
- Community Engagement: Mobilizing traditional rulers, religious leaders, and respected community figures to build trust.
- Fighting Misinformation: Intensifying the fight against false narratives, especially in hard-to-reach areas.
- Youth Advocacy: Encouraging youth participation to sustain a positive culture of immunisation.
Sokoto State Pledges to Reinforce Borders
Sokoto State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Faruk Abubakar Wurno, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to achieving 100% coverage, noting that 19 out of 23 LGAs recorded over 90 percent coverage in the recent campaign.
However, Dr. Wurno acknowledged that Sokoto’s proximity to border communities poses an ongoing risk of cross-border virus transmission, leading the state to:
- Reinforce surveillance systems.
- Strengthen border health posts.
- Deploy 209 midwives to 109 Primary Health Centres.
- Introduce a mandatory two-year rural posting for new health workers to improve grassroots service.