By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
In a passionate call to action, the Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Muhammad Hamim Nuhu, has pledged unwavering support to ensure that no child in Jigawa State is left unprotected in the fight against polio.
Speaking at the launch of the polio vaccination campaign in Jiba village, organized by UNICEF in partnership with the Jigawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (PHCDA), the Emir addressed past skepticism surrounding immunization efforts.
He reassured rural communities that the polio vaccine is not only safe but a critical lifeline for their children.
“We will never bring you anything that will harm you,” he said. “Without you, there is no us. You are our pride. Everything we do is for your protection and wellbeing.”
Recalling the example of his late father, the revered Emir Sanusi, he shared a powerful memory: “When immunization campaigns began, my father used his own grandchildren—including me—to show the safety of vaccines. If it were harmful, would he have risked the lives of his own blood?”
The Emir challenged long-standing myths, including fears that vaccines could affect fertility, pointing to the thriving communities and newborns in their arms today as living proof that those fears were unfounded.
Meanwhile, Director of the PHCDA, Dr. Hassan Shuaibu Kwalam stressed the critical importance of the campaign.
Despite Nigeria’s 2013 certification as polio-free, new variants of the virus have emerged, threatening to undo years of progress.
“This campaign aims to close every gap,” Dr. Kwalam said. “We are targeting two million children under the age of five across all 27 LGAs within just four days. It is a race against time.”
To address longstanding healthcare access issues, Dutse Local Government Chairman, Dr. Sibo Abdullahi, announced the construction of five new primary healthcare centers this year.
Jiba village, once a hotspot of vaccine resistance, now celebrates the opening of its first health post—a direct response to community demands.
In a stark reminder of the stakes, UNICEF’s Chief Field Officer, Dr. Lukman, revealed that 18 polio cases have already been reported in 2025 across nine states, with two cases in Jigawa’s Hadejia and Sule Tankarkar LGAs.
“This is unacceptable,” Dr. Lukman warned. “Polio anywhere is a threat everywhere. We are so close to eradicating this disease, but we must not falter.”
Dr. Lukman called for urgent action, urging the Jigawa State Government to declare a State of Emergency on Polio and Routine Immunization, and for local governments to immediately release counterpart funding to ensure no child is left behind.
“In the last 50 years, vaccines have saved 154 million lives—six every minute. Ending polio starts by reaching every child, everywhere,” he said. “Together, we can finish the fight.”
