By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
Despite years of progress in Nigeria’s battle against polio, UNICEF has raised serious concerns over a disturbing resurgence of the Type 2 variant poliovirus (cVPV2), warning that increased paralysis cases linked to the virus threaten to derail eradication goals.
At a media dialogue held in Kaduna on Thursday, the Officer in Charge of the UNICEF Kaduna Field Office, Dr. Idris Baba, revealed that while detections of the poliovirus variant declined from 166 in 2023 to 122 in 2024, the number of paralysis cases more than doubled over the past three years, jumping from 46 in 2022 to 98 in 2024.
“As of epidemiological week 19 in 2025, we are still recording new detections,” Dr. Baba said.
“We’ve seen 17 cases from Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP), 7 from environmental samples, and one even from a healthy child, across 19 Local Government Areas in nine states, including an unexpected case in Oyo State.”
He also disclosed a worrying detection of poliovirus type 3 in Yobe State, highlighting the risk of inadequate immunity to multiple strains of the virus.
Calling for intensified collaboration, Dr. Baba urged the media to sustain pressure and awareness, noting their pivotal role in boosting immunization uptake during the April National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) and World Immunization Week.
“Over 400 media mentions in Northern Nigeria during April alone helped drive vaccine demand. We must build on this momentum,” he said. “Our focus now is to reframe the narrative, from despair to determination, by spotlighting positive examples of caregivers defying misinformation to protect their children.”
According to Dr. Baba, oral polio vaccine (OPV) efforts globally have prevented over 24 million cases of paralysis since 1988. Yet, he warned that the virus remains “one of the most contagious,” and a single missed case poses a threat to all children.
“To truly eradicate polio, 95% of children under five must be vaccinated in every round,” he stressed.
“But many parts of Nigeria, including Kaduna, continue to miss this target.”
He cited the 2023 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), which ranked Kaduna among the states with the highest percentage of “zero-dose” children, those who have never received any vaccine.
“Low routine immunization coverage, poor sanitation, and widespread malnutrition are enabling the virus to persist,” he said.
While commending local government chairmen who personally supported April’s campaign, some funding activities from their own pockets, he urged others to follow suit in the upcoming June round.
“I appeal to LGA chairmen and their spouses to lead by example through public flag-off events,” he said.
“Every parent, especially fathers, must understand: even if your child has been vaccinated before, additional doses are essential until the virus is gone.”
Dr. Baba also issued a stark reminder, that Nigerian pilgrims traveling for Hajj are still required to take the oral polio vaccine due to ongoing transmission in the country.
“Imagine the shame of queuing for polio vaccines abroad when 99.9% of the world has moved on,” he said. “We owe our children a future free from this crippling disease.”
“We must end the spread of variant polioviruses by 2025. The time to act is now.” He concluded.
