NEC orders states to step up polio immunisation, approves campaigns in high-risk areas

The national economic council (NEC) has directed state governments to intensify efforts on polio immunisation.

The directive was issued during Thursday’s meeting chaired by Kashim Shettima, the vice-president.

During the session, the council reviewed ongoing efforts to combat polio and received a briefing from Inuwa Yahaya, governor of Gombe and chair of the committee on polio eradication.

Yahaya reported that cases of the circulating variant type 2 polio virus have declined sharply in 2025, with 42 cases recorded so far, compared to 78 cases in 2024.

He noted that Kano and Katsina have achieved reductions of more than 80 percent, while Zamfara has not recorded any new infections.

Sokoto, however, remains the worst-hit, accounting for 13 of the cases confirmed nationwide this year.

The governor highlighted that vaccination coverage had risen to 84 percent by June, with “millions of children reached in high-risk states”.

He added that the campaigns also delivered additional health services, such as nutrition support for pregnant women and malaria prevention.

The NEC approved upcoming immunisation exercises, including a September 11 to 14 campaign in high-risk states and a nationwide integrated vaccination drive in October to cover children under 14 against polio, measles, rubella, and malaria.

The council also instructed deputy governors, as heads of state task forces, to convene meetings ahead of each vaccination round, while LGA chairmen will coordinate follow-up mop-up operations.

Security agencies have been directed to provide protection in vulnerable areas, particularly in Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kebbi.

Meanwhile, the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) called for timely funding to maintain progress.

In response, the council urged the office of the accountant-ceneral to prioritise resources for vaccination and other primary healthcare programmes.