UNICEF: Low Immunization Coverage Behind Polio Resurgence in Lagos
In commemoration of the 2025 World Immunisation Week, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the Lagos State Government, led a powerful advocacy walk to spotlight the urgent need for routine immunisation.
The event, which drew hundreds of participants, marched from the Office of the First Lady in Alausa to the Ministry of Education in Ikeja, uniting policymakers, youth advocates, development partners, and community leaders in a common cause: protecting children from vaccine-preventable diseases.
Chief of UNICEF Lagos Field Office, Ms. Celine Lafoucriere, identified low immunisation coverage, poor sanitation, and malnutrition as the key drivers behind the resurgence of polio and other preventable illnesses in Lagos. “We are not done yet,” she warned. “Right here in Lagos, we are detecting a resurgence of polio. Routine immunisation is our best bet.”
She called for stronger public education to debunk harmful myths about vaccines and to normalise routine immunisation beyond campaign periods. “Vaccines are proven lifesavers, yet some communities only access them during campaigns. This is not sustainable,” she said.
The First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, echoed this call to action, describing immunisation as a basic human right. She announced that from May 3 to May 6, 2025, Lagos will participate in the National Immunisation Plus Days, during which children aged 0 to 59 months will receive free oral polio vaccines through house-to-house outreach and at public spaces like schools, markets, and religious centres.
She warned against misinformation and vaccine hesitancy, noting, “Vaccines are safe, effective, and lifesaving. We must combat vaccine hesitancy by promoting accurate information and building trust within our communities.”
Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat, wife of the Deputy Governor, urged attendees to become immunisation ambassadors, ensuring the message reaches every corner of the state. Dr. Ibrahim Mustapha, Permanent Secretary of the Family Health Board, called the advocacy walk a “purposeful act” in Lagos’s mission to leave no child behind.
Dr. Chinenye Okafor, WHO State Coordinator, raised concern that unvaccinated children in Nigeria could potentially spread diseases beyond its borders, while Dr. Segun Emiju from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency reaffirmed that immunisation is a fundamental right, stressing the need for system-wide improvements.
In his remarks, Lagos Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Bolaji Ogunlende, pledged the state’s continued collaboration with partners to expand immunisation coverage across all communities.
The event ended with a unified call for collective action, stronger public awareness, and equitable access to vaccines for all children in Lagos.
