STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI ON NIGERIA’S ATTAINMENT OF WILD-POLIO-FREE STATUS – JUNE 21, 2020

I congratulate all Nigerians as our country attains this historic status of being free from the Wild Polio Virus. So many partners, local and international, have contributed tirelessly to this feat — we are deeply grateful to each and every one of you.

This achievement reflects the resilient spirit of Nigerians, in particular the strength and capacity of our health workers, who drew resources and support from multiple sectors to deal a final blow to the Wild Polio Virus.

This achievement is not only one of the great successes of this generation of Nigerians but also one of the obvious dividends of this administration, which is consistent with our progressive investment in the health of our people since 2015.

This landmark achievement is also a promise kept to all Nigerians. As you will recall, in August 2015, barely three months after we assumed office, I promised Nigerians that: “My government shall provide the necessary resources and commitment required to strengthen the health system, routine immunization and ensure the country is certified Polio-free.”

When, in 2016, Nigeria suffered a major setback with the outbreak of the Wild Polio Virus in Borno State, after about 2 years without any case, I directed the immediate release of N9.8billion to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) to contain the outbreak.

Subsequently, we have been meeting all our financial obligations to bilateral and multilateral agreements, and have also provided the moral support and leadership required at all levels to motivate the men and women in the frontline of polio eradication in Nigeria.

In addition, we sincerely appreciate our donors and development partners who stood by the country during those trying times.

This achievement of polio free status is a hard-won battle spanning over three decades of hard work and dedication by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), the Federal, States and Local Governments, polio eradication teams at all levels, our donors and development partners, both local and international.

As we recall, the polio eradication structures were used when Nigeria successfully eradicated Ebola Virus Disease within the shortest possible time in 2014.

I am glad that these same human, material and technological resources have been deployed to steadily increase Routine Immunization coverage and are being organized to implement the fight against community transmission of the Covid-19 pandemic.

This big battle would not have been won without the support of our donors and development partners including Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Aliko Dangote Foundation, Rotary International, United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, USAID, Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), European Union, Global Health Canada, German Development Bank (KfW), WHO, UNICEF, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Polio Survivors Group, the media, and faith-based and other non-governmental organizations.

Let me also acknowledge the immense contribution of traditional and religious leaders who mobilized communities to accept the immunization program and other government programs.

The final theatre of the polio eradication fight was particularly championed by the Northern Traditional Leaders Committee on Polio Eradication and Primary Health Care (NTLC) under the guidance of His Highness, Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Saad Abubakar, and the strategic leadership of the late Shehu of Bama, Alh. Kyari Ibn Umar El-Kanemi.

We thank you all for the leadership and partnership over the years.

This victory is for us all, and for future generations of Nigerians.

Which Buhari?

abeg tell us another story.

Ok
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Those ignorant children will have to apologize to Bill Gates

The polio intervention programme was widely financed by foreign interest, and they should take the glory for this success. Buhari, pls edit this statement of urs and send it to whom it may really concern (the foreign organizations that sponsored the fight against polio in Nigeria), cos Nigerians are craving for issues that they deem more critical which previous governments including your present government has not achieved anything tangible in resolving. When your government satisfies Nigerians and eradicate the many challenges Nigerian citizens face, u then can be qualified to issue a statement to us.

This won't be possible without the efforts of Sir Emeka offor, alhaji ákíkó dangote and Bill and Melinda Gates foundation. Kudos to them

I Love PMB

Emeka Offor just dey do him own. Him no even send Nnamdi Kanu

Good news.

michlins:
This won't be possible without the efforts of Sir Emeka offor, alhaji ákíkó dangote and Bill and Melinda Gates foundation. Kudos to them

99% bill gates, WHO and UNICEF.

0.5% for dangote and offor and 0.5% politicians.

Long overdue
The refusal of vaccines in Kano, Zamfara, Kaduna and other parts if northern Nigeria brought about the persistence of wild polio virus in Nigeria, making the country one of the last places on the planet where wild polio still thrived.
This boycott was ignorantly backed by some key northern religious and political leaders unfortunately.

Good thing it has been eliminated at least for now.
No child should suffer polio especially since it can be prevented.

I hope this claim is true,...

Bill and Melinda Gates foundation be giving buhari"s adminstration bragging points

Buhari's incompetent government could not have done it without them

Better late than never

This is not bad news so he's not shocked.
Nonsense and Shocker

Lol foolish people thanking bill gates ,

Insecurity is our major problem. Until it's resolved,every other achievement is inconclusive.

K

TransflectTP:
We should clap hands abi?

Corona virus nko

Mediocrity

Yinmu. Pretending as if na him do am. Mtcheeeeew

good...forget all this long scriped speech and appreciate billgates and also dangote for thier support and move on...thankGOD he is not in shock this time

Sai baba make we congatulate you


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YorubaKinging:
Lol foolish people thanking bill gates ,

If only you knew how much that foundation contributed...if only you knew

Hmm

Ọr dẹh

Even with all the wealth, the only people that deserves the glory are
WHO
UNICEF
And
World Bank.