The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has confirmed that polio transmission remains active in Nigeria, emphasizing the need for all necessary measures to eradicate the disease.
A total of 17 cases of circulating poliovirus type 2 (cVPV2) have been reported in Nigeria so far this year.
Dr. Muyi Aina, the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), shared this update during the agency’s first-quarter press briefing in Abuja, noting that the figures were as of April 10, 2025.
He explained that these cases were spread across 15 local government areas in eight states nationwide.
“I want to take this opportunity to reassure all Nigerians that we have remained free of wild poliovirus (WPV). However, since 2021, we have been dealing with the challenge of cVPV2 – a mutated form of the virus that has been spreading,” Dr. Aina stated.
“As of April 10, 2025, we have recorded 17 cVPV2 cases in 15 LGAs across eight states. Of these, 12 are Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) cases, while 5 were detected in Environmental Sites (ES). This indicates that the virus is still actively transmitting in the country, and we must take immediate action to halt its spread.”
He further added, “To address this, we have initiated a strategic shift in key aspects of the polio campaign, including the selection of vaccination teams, demand generation, supervision, and accountability.”
He announced that the agency’s next polio campaign is set to begin this Saturday, April 26th, with the northern states, followed by the southern states starting on May 3rd, both in phases.
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“The northern states will synchronise with our neighbouring countries in the Lake Basin. “Our Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, along with his counterparts from the Lake Chad Basin countries (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, and Niger), launched the synchronized polio vaccination campaign last week in N’Djamena, Chad.
“The objective is to vaccinate approximately 83 million children across these Lake Chad Basin nations,” he further stated.
It’s worth recalling that in 2020, Nigeria was declared free of wild poliovirus (WPV) following the successful eradication of the virus in the country.
