“I only agreed after they explained why the vaccine was important for my child,” she said. “Now I encourage other mothers to listen and ask questions.”
Amina’s experience reflects the reality in many communities where trusted voices help families make informed health decisions.
Stories like Amina’s show why trust remains central to Nigeria’s effort to end poliovirus transmission and strengthen routine immunization. Nigeria can stop the spread of poliovirus and protect more children through sustained leadership from traditional institutions, government commitment and coordinated partner support.
This message shaped discussions at the second quarter review meeting of the Northern Traditional Leaders Committee in Abuja. The meeting brought together traditional leaders, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, Rotary International, the Gates Foundation and other partners.
Nigeria has made important progress, but gaps remain. With an estimated 8 million births each year, about 2.1 million children have not received any routine vaccine. National routine immunization coverage among children aged 12 to 23 months is estimated at 57%, while coverage in northern Nigeria is lower at 41.5%.
These figures point to an equity concern. Children in remote, insecure or underserved communities are more likely to miss vaccines. Many of them live in areas where families face barriers such as distance from health facilities, misinformation, conflict, poverty or lack of regular outreach services.
Women, especially mothers and caregivers, play a central role in vaccination decisions, making community engagement essential.
Surveillance gaps also remain. According to the weekly national polio statistics report for week 30 of 2026, an estimated 719 wards, representing 8.1% of wards nationwide, are reported as “silent wards”. These are areas where no suspected cases are being detected or reported, often because surveillance systems need strengthening.
WHO continues to support government-led efforts through surveillance strengthening, data analysis, training for frontline health workers, coordination support and community engagement. This support aligns with Nigeria’s Health Sector Renewal Investment Programme, the national primary health care revitalization strategy and the National Immunization Agenda 2030. It also supports WHO’s country cooperation priorities and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative strategy, which focuses on stopping all poliovirus transmission and strengthening immunization systems. Immunization Agenda 2030 aims to ensure everyone, everywhere, at every age benefits from vaccines, with equity and primary health care at its centre. Nigeria’s sector-wide health reforms also identify immunization, primary health care and zero-dose children as priorities.
At the meeting, Dr Pavel Ursu, WHO Representative to Nigeria, recognized the role of traditional leaders in building trust and helping health workers reach children who are often missed.
“Health workers deliver vaccines, partners can support vaccination, but traditional leaders significantly contribute to deliver trust,”. Traditional leaders help families understand why vaccination matters and why every child should be protected.” Ursu said
“As traditional leaders, it is our responsibility to ensure that no child is left unimmunized, no outbreak goes unreported and no community is left behind. While widespread insecurity poses a major barrier to reaching remote or vulnerable populations with essential health services, traditional and political leaders must not use insecurity as an excuse to abandon vulnerable communities,” said Alhaji Samaila Mera, Chairman of the Northern Traditional Leaders Committee and Emir of Argungu.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Muhammad Ali Pate, said the US$ 615 million immunization financing package planned for 2026 to 2030 presents an opportunity to strengthen immunization services. The package includes US$ 515 million from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and US$ 100 million in counterpart funding from the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The investment is expected to support cold-chain systems, vaccine delivery, frontline service capacity and better access to routine immunization. It also fits within Nigeria’s wider health sector reforms, which call for stronger domestic financing and better coordination across federal, state and local levels.
Dr Muyi Aina, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, said Nigeria has reduced circulating variant poliovirus type 2 cases from 48 to 39 as of July 2026. He also noted the detection of seven variant poliovirus type 3 cases, which requires urgent action.
According to the agency, 70% of detected poliovirus cases are concentrated in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states, where population immunity remains low. In Sokoto State, inactivated polio vaccine coverage is reported at 10%. Analysis of 121 confirmed poliovirus cases found that more than 80% of affected children were zero-dose, and 90% had not received a routine inactivated polio vaccine dose.
These findings show why routine immunization and polio campaigns must work together. Campaigns can interrupt outbreaks, but routine services protect children over time.
Traditional leaders were urged to continue mobilizing families, identifying missed children, supporting vaccination teams and addressing rumours through community and religious platforms. Their role is especially important in areas where public trust is low or where health services are difficult to reach.
WHO and partners will continue to support the Government of Nigeria and the Northern Traditional Leaders Committee with technical assistance, evidence generation, workforce capacity-building and coordination. Recent WHO-supported surveillance work in Nigeria has focused on improving detection of suspected cases and closing gaps at state and community levels.
The call from the meeting was clear: every missed child must be found, every community must be heard, and every dose must reach the child who needs it.
Ending poliovirus transmission in Nigeria will require sustained action from government, traditional leaders, health workers, caregivers, donors and partners. The next step is to turn available financing, community trust and technical support into stronger services for every child, wherever they live.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of WHO Regional Office for Africa.
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