Niger State faces imminent risk of a polio outbreak if urgent vaccination drives are not intensified, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned, pointing to rising cases in neighbouring states.
Dr Ibrahim Mohammed, UNICEF Social and Behaviour Change Specialist for the Kaduna Field Office, gave the stark alert at a one-day media engagement in Minna.
He said unvaccinated children remain highly exposed and stressed the need for parents to act swiftly as the statewide polio immunisation campaign began on Sunday, March 29, 2026.
Reviewing the polio situation in Bauchi, Kebbi, Kwara, Zamfara and Sokoto, Mohammed noted that the surge in bordering states now threatens Niger.
“With the cases in neighbouring states, Niger stands the risk of having a polio outbreak if proactive measures are not taken. The increasing number of cases in states bordering Niger poses a significant threat to children in the state, particularly those yet to be vaccinated,” he told journalists.
He reminded participants there is no cure for polio and that immunisation is the only reliable shield against the virus while appealing directly to parents and guardians to present their children for vaccination during the ongoing campaign.
Mohammed Usman, State Health Educator with the Niger State Primary Health Care Development Agency, said the exercise is being rolled out across all 25 local government areas to contain any potential spread.
Full protection, he explained, requires multiple doses, and any missed vaccinations could allow the virus to continue circulating.
Other Health officials who spoke during the event described the campaign as a critical window to boost immunity in the state and prevent cross-border transmission from fuelling a fresh outbreak in Niger.
Door-to-door and fixed-post teams are currently active throughout the 25 LGAs.
