FIC Report (Sokoto State) – The Governor of Sokoto state, Ahamed Aliyu,has commended President Bola Ahamed Tinubu’s administration for its sustained efforts in strengthening Nigeria’s health sector, nothing that ongoing Federal interventions in Primary Healthcare, disease prevention, and immunisation have significantly improved public health outcomes across the country and Sokoto state in particular.
The Governor stated this at the official launch of the 2026 outbreak response immunisation campaign against poliovirus held at Gidan Igwai Primary Health Care centre in Sokoto North Local Government Area.He reaffirmed 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 stated that 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.
The Governor further 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 disclosed that 2,830 ad-hoc staff have been recruited for the 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 deployed also strategically assigned to ensure effective coverage and implementation of the exercise.
He urged parents and guardians to cooperate fully with the vaccination teams to ensure all children under the age of five receive the vaccine,stressing that the oral polio vaccin is safe, effective and essential for child survival. He warned individuals or groups planning to sabotage the exercise to desist, nothing that anyone found culpable would be decisively dealt with according to the law. The Governor directed Local Government chairmen, traditional rulers and Islamic scholars (ulamas) to intensify sensitisation campaigns on the dangers of refusing immunisation.
Earlier in his remarks, the Sokoto state Commissioner for Health, Dr Faruk Umar Abubakar, described the campaign as a critical publiu 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 unactivated According to him, this year’s campaign has been carefully coordinated to guarantee effective coverage across all communities. He added that improved logistics, strategic planning and deployment of trained personnel have been prioritised to ensure the success of the exercise.
The launch was attended by prominent dignitaries including the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, represented by the the Sarkin Sudan of Wurno, Alhaji Kabiru Chigari and also representatives of WHO, UNICEF and PHCDA among others.
Ramatu Sani ( Mrs),
Head of Centre,
FIC, Sokoto.
16th/4/2026.
