Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, has issued a stern warning to senior officials, signaling impending sweeping leadership changes in teams failing to deliver on key performance indicators (KPIs) related to polio eradication and routine immunization.
The announcement came following a debriefing session with the Expert Review Committee (ERC) on Polio Eradication and Routine Immunization at the Ministry's headquarters in Abuja. Prof. Pate emphasized a results-oriented approach, stating unequivocally: "We are after results, not effort."
Nigeria has made significant strides in the fight against polio, having been certified free of wild poliovirus since 2020. However, the country continues to grapple with circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2), with ongoing transmission posing a risk to full eradication.
The government's ambitious target is to interrupt all forms of poliovirus transmission by the end of 2025, aligning with broader efforts under President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda to strengthen primary healthcare, expand infrastructure, and boost routine immunization coverage.
Recent data indicates progress: as of late 2025, cVDPV2 cases have decreased compared to previous years, supported by integrated vaccination campaigns, enhanced surveillance, and community mobilization. Despite these gains, persistent challenges, such as gaps in immunization compliance, team supervision, vaccine hesitancy, security issues in certain regions, and data quality concerns have hindered achieving full KPIs in some areas.
Prof. Pate's directive portrays the administration's commitment to accountability, aiming to ensure no child is left vulnerable to this preventable disease. The potential leadership changes are expected in underperforming teams across the health sector, particularly those directly involved in polio and immunization programs.
This move reflects the minister's longstanding focus on polio eradication, drawing from his prior roles where he contributed to major reductions in cases and system reforms.
Stakeholders, including partners from WHO, UNICEF, and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, have reaffirmed support for Nigeria's efforts, stressing the need for sustained political will and operational excellence to secure a polio-free future.
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