Korede Abdullah 
Executive Director, NPHCDA, Dr. Muyi Aina
LAGOS, Nigeria – Nigeria has reaffirmed its determination to eradicate polio and strengthen routine immunisation as global leaders convene at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
Speaking on Tuesday during a high-level panel session titled “Eradication & Beyond – Polio Infrastructure and Resilience,” Dr Muyi Aina, Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), assured the international community that the federal government remains committed to protecting every Nigerian child from vaccine-preventable diseases.
“Our polio infrastructure, built through years of collective effort, will continue to be leveraged not only for polio eradication but also to strengthen our health system and build resilience against future public health threats,” Aina said.
He noted that Nigeria’s participation at UNGA presents an opportunity to mobilise resources, deepen partnerships, and strengthen the country’s leadership role in global health security.
Nigeria was declared free of wild poliovirus in August 2020 by the World Health Organization (WHO) after decades of vaccination campaigns, surveillance, and community mobilisation. However, the country continues to battle outbreaks of circulating Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus type 2 (cVPV2), mainly linked to gaps in routine immunisation.
Health experts warn that insecurity, weak health systems, and community resistance in hard-to-reach areas remain major challenges to achieving a fully polio-free future.
About the Author
Mirian Gom 
Hussaini Ibrahim 
