The Governor of Sokoto State, Honourable Ahmed Aliyu, has officially flagged off the 2026 First Quarter Polio Immunisation Plus Days (IPDs) campaign, reaffirming the state’s commitment to maintaining its “polio-free” status. At a colorful ceremony held at the Primary Healthcare Center in the Sokoto North Local Government Area on Friday, April 17, 2026, the Governor personally administered the “two drops” of the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) to several children, signaling the commencement of a week-long exercise targeted at reaching over 1.2 million children under the age of five. Governor Aliyu emphasized that the campaign is a “critical defense” against the resurgence of the Wild Polio Virus (WPV) and the Circulating Variant Polio Virus (cVPV2) which still pose a threat in the West African sub-region.
The 2026 campaign is being executed in partnership with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and international donor agencies, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF. Governor Ahmed Aliyu noted that his administration has allocated ₦500 million for the “procurement of logistics” and the “training of 15,000 ad-hoc health workers” to ensure that the vaccine reaches every “hard-to-reach” hamlet and “bandit-vulnerable” community in the state. Supporting context indicates that the campaign will also include “plus items” such as deworming tablets, Vitamin A supplements, and basic nutritional packs to incentivize parents and improve the overall health outcomes of the children. The Governor urged traditional and religious leaders to use their “high-level influence” to dispel “vaccine hesitancy” and “misinformation” that often hinder such exercises.
Stakeholder reactions to the flag-off have been overwhelmingly supportive, with the “Sultan of Sokoto,” His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, represented by the Wazirin Sokoto, Professor Sambo Wali Junaidu, pledging the “unflinching support” of the traditional institution. He noted that “health is the foundation of every development” and instructed all district and village heads to provide “safe passage and maximum cooperation” to the immunization teams. Similarly, the “Sokoto State Mothers’ Association” has lauded the Governor for the “plus items,” noting that the inclusion of nutritional supplements makes the campaign more attractive to families in rural areas. However, some health workers have raised concerns about the “security of the mobile teams” in the border LGAs, prompting the Governor to direct the “State Vigilante Corps” to provide armed escorts for the duration of the exercise.
Public health and developmental analysts observe that Sokoto’s “proactive stance” on polio is vital for the “Global Polio Eradication Initiative.” Experts suggest that because Sokoto shares an “active border” with the Niger Republic, it serves as a “buffer zone” for the entire country. They argue that the “Political Will” shown by Governor Aliyu is a significant factor in overcoming the “fatigue” that often sets in during long-term public health campaigns. Dr. Aminu Magashi, a health policy analyst, noted that the integration of “plus items” is a “proven strategy” for increasing “immunization coverage” in underserved populations. He suggested that the state must now focus on “strengthening routine immunization” at the primary health centers to ensure that the benefits of the campaign are sustained throughout the year.
The broader implications of this campaign point toward a more “resilient and healthy” future generation in Sokoto State. By successfully immunizing 1.2 million children, the state is contributing to the “national herd immunity” and protecting the country from an “international public health emergency” declaration. The exercise also serves as a “capacity-building” opportunity for the state’s primary healthcare workers, improving their skills in “cold-chain management” and “community mobilization.” As the mobile teams begin their door-to-door visits across the 23 Local Government Areas, the focus remains on the “quality of the data collection” and the “reach of the security-challenged zones.” For the parents of Sokoto, the Governor’s “two drops” represent a promise of protection for their children’s future.
