Korede Abdullah 
LAGOS, Nigeria – The Lagos State Government has commenced a statewide Polio Outbreak Response vaccination campaign following the detection of an orphan circulating Variant Poliovirus Type 2 (cVPV2) in Makoko, a densely populated riverine settlement in Lagos Mainland.
The exercise, led by the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board (LSPHCB) in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), WHO, UNICEF and other global health partners, aims to prevent further transmission and boost child immunity across the state.
Speaking on Friday, the Permanent Secretary of the LSPHCB, Dr. Ibrahim Akinwunmi Mustafa, confirmed that routine environmental surveillance detected the virus in wastewater samples.
“Routine surveillance identified the orphan cVPV2 strain in samples collected from Makoko — a signal of potential ongoing transmission,” Mustafa said.
He explained that the campaign will involve two intensive rounds of door-to-door vaccination across all 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs, targeting every child under the age of five with the novel Oral Polio Vaccine (nOPV2), certified safe by WHO and NAFDAC.
“Our goal is to ensure every eligible child in Lagos receives the vaccine and remains protected from paralysis,” he said.
The government has strengthened surveillance, logistics, and community mobilization in partnership with traditional rulers, religious leaders and local influencers to ensure widespread coverage.
Mustafa urged parents and guardians to fully cooperate with health workers:
“The vaccine is free, safe, and essential for protecting our communities. We urge all families to welcome vaccination teams.”
Health analysts note that population density, sanitation challenges and migration patterns place Lagos at elevated risk, making rapid response critical to sustaining Nigeria’s polio-free status.
About the Author
Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
Oluwafunbi Bello 
Mirian Gom 
Hussaini Ibrahim