On World Polio Day 2026, the global polio eradication partnership emphasises that the world is closer than ever to ending polio. However, achieving this goal requires greater urgency, enhanced country ownership, and unwavering commitment to reaching every child.
All children in the world should have the opportunity to grow up healthy, protected from preventable diseases, and be able to achieve their full potential.
In August 2020, Nigeria was certified free of wild poliovirus, representing a significant milestone for both the country and Africa. Nevertheless, circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus continues to pose a public health threat, particularly in communities with under-immunised children, resulting in over 700 paralysed children since 2021.
The World Health Organisation’s (WHO’s) August 2026 Emergency Committee statement noted ongoing cVDPV2 and cVDPV3 transmission in Nigeria and emphasised the need to improve routine immunisation and the quality of vaccination campaigns, especially in high-risk northern states. The task ahead is clear and demanding: to find every child, vaccinate all eligible children, detect every suspected case, and respond quickly wherever poliovirus is found.
The Independent Monitoring Board’s (IMB) 25th report, released on October 2, 2026, highlighted the gravity of the situation. The IMB, which independently assesses global progress towards detecting and interrupting polio transmission, delivered a stark assessment of Nigeria’s position in the fight. It noted: “Nigeria is not simply one outbreak country among many. It is the principal remaining engine of circulating type 2 vaccine-derived poliovirus in the Africa Region and the largest test of whether the polio eradication partnership can convert money, technical sophistication and institutional memory into vaccination in the household.”
As of the end of week 40 in 2026, Nigeria had reported 47 cVDPV2 cases in 2026, compared with 68 in 2025. Nigeria also reported 14 cVDPV3 cases in 2026, compared with three in 2025.
For Nigeria, the message for World Polio Day 2026 is unequivocal: safeguarding progress and ensuring every child is reached is essential.
Recent evidence underscores the necessity of robust surveillance and high population immunity. In August and September 2026, Nigeria conducted an independent review of its polio and vaccine-preventable disease surveillance systems across 13 high-priority states, 39 local government areas, and 111 health facilities. This review, led by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and the National Polio Emergency Operations Center in collaboration with WHO and Global Polio Eradication Initiative partners, is identifying and addressing gaps in case detection and investigation.
Ongoing vigilance by communities and health systems is essential to detect polio. Prompt reporting and investigation of sudden weaknesses or paralysis in children are critical. Effective surveillance enables early detection of poliovirus, identification of transmission areas, and rapid public health responses. Routine and supplementary immunisation activities should prioritise zero-dose and under-immunised children, employing tailored strategies for hard-to-reach communities, insecure areas, mobile populations, and border settlements.
Sustaining these critical interventions is becoming increasingly challenging amid shifts in multilateralism and declining global funding. In Nigeria, funding constraints are forcing the Polio partnership to make difficult choices, with response actions increasingly shaped by affordability rather than public health needs. Addressing this gap requires greater domestic government financing, sustained investment in routine immunisation, and innovative engagement strategies to tackle community fatigue and empower families to demand and access immunisation as a right.
Against this backdrop, community engagement is more critical than ever.
Polio eradication depends on communities being informed, heard, and actively involved. Traditional and religious leaders, health workers, caregivers, civil society, and the media all play vital roles in building trust, addressing concerns, and countering misinformation.
This is particularly important in Northern Nigeria, where most polio cases are currently being detected, and traditional leaders wield significant community influence. The Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Mohammed Samaila Mera, underscores this responsibility: “As custodians of our people’s culture and traditions, we have a duty to mobilise communities, build trust in vaccination, and confront misinformation. We consider it a religious duty to ensure that no child is left behind in the fight to eradicate all forms of polio.”
Nigeria’s progress also demonstrates the importance of partnerships. Government leadership, WHO, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, and other partners have worked with health workers and communities for decades to protect children. These efforts show what is possible when resources, expertise, and community action are aligned toward a common goal. However, the epidemiological situation requires continued vigilance.
Achieving these objectives will require sustained leadership at all levels of government, as well as ongoing support for health workers, community engagement, and the maintenance of technical and operational capacity. Continued investment in health systems and surveillance is essential for both polio eradication and broader health security. This moment provides an opportunity to recognise Nigeria’s significant progress, honour the children and families affected by polio, and renew the collective commitment to ensuring that future generations are protected from its devastating consequences. Nigeria has already demonstrated that. The next phase focuses on ensuring that no child is left behind.
Polio is closer to extinction than ever, but the final mile could determine whether the world wins or loses. Wild poliovirus transmission remains confined to Afghanistan and Pakistan, while circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses continue to threaten progress in parts of Africa, especially Nigeria.
As the world observes World Polio Day on October 24, with the theme, “One day, one focus: ending polio for good,” Nigeria’s imperative remains urgent: polio eradication is ongoing, and Nigeria’s progress will significantly influence global efforts to achieve a polio-free future. The tools to end polio exist; the challenge is ensuring they reach every child, every time. Closing immunity gaps, strengthening surveillance and routine immunisation, and sustaining political and community commitment will be critical to turning decades of progress into a permanent victory.
With government leadership, community ownership, dedicated health workers, strong partnerships, and evidence-based action, Nigeria can eliminate all forms of polio and secure a healthier future for every child.
Dr Ursu is WHO’s Country Representative to Nigeria
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