Niger State remains committed to maintaining its polio-free status by enhancing disease surveillance systems, according to Health Commissioner Dr. Murtala Muhammad Bagana. He made the declaration during a visit by a delegation from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) to Minna. Dr. Bagana emphasized that government ownership of public health programmes is critical to sustaining gains made in polio eradication. He noted that community engagement and timely reporting of acute flaccid paralysis cases are key components of the state's surveillance strategy. The GPEI delegation reaffirmed its support for Niger State's immunization and monitoring efforts, particularly in hard-to-reach areas. The state has recorded no wild poliovirus case in recent years, maintaining its status since the last confirmed case in 2012.
Dr. Murtala Muhammad Bagana's emphasis on government ownership rings hollow without proof of increased local funding for surveillance. Niger State's polio-free record since 2012 means little if health systems still rely heavily on foreign-backed initiatives like GPEI. For Nigerians, this signals continuity, not progress—routine immunization and case reporting remain fragile without sustainable investment. A polio-free title is not the same as a health system that can keep it.
