Nigeria has recorded a 44 percent decline in polio cases, according to the National Economic Council (NEC) Ad-hoc Committee on Polio Eradication, chaired by Gombe State Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya.
Speaking after the NEC meeting presided over by Vice President, Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa on Thursday, Yahaya said epidemiological data showed cases of circulating Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus Type 2 (cVPV2) dropped from 109 in 2024 to 61 in 2025.
He noted that Kano and Katsina recorded significant reductions — by 89 and 88 percent respectively — while Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kebbi reported new cases, highlighting the need for sustained vigilance.
Yahaya said outreach efforts and vaccination coverage improved nationwide, with settlements reached rising from 77 percent in August to 97 percent in September, and vaccination coverage in insecure areas reaching 90 percent.
He added that the first phase of the National Integrated Campaign launched by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu achieved wide coverage in five high-burden states, while the second phase has commenced in Gombe.
The Council reaffirmed its commitment to eradicating polio and urged states to release funds promptly to sustain immunisation drives.
NEC also reviewed updates on fiscal balances and agricultural innovation, noting that as of October 2025, the Excess Crude Account stood at $535,823, while the Stabilisation and Natural Resources Accounts held ₦87.6 billion and ₦141.5 billion respectively.
It further endorsed the Katsina Sustainable Platform for Agriculture (KASPA) model and directed the Ministry of Agriculture to establish data control centres in all six geopolitical zones to strengthen food security initiatives.
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