President Muhammadu Buhari congratulates fellow citizens on the joyous and historic occasion as Nigeria becomes Wild Polio Virus Free, while appreciating all partners, local and international, for their relentless efforts in ensuring the clean health bill.
This was contained in a statement released by Garba Shehu Senior Special Assistant to the President Media and Publicity on June 22, 2020.
This achievement, the President says, reflects the resilient spirit of Nigerians, particularly the capacity of hardworking men and women in the health industry, who drew resources and support from multiple.
The President notes that in 2016 the country suffered a major setback in the polio eradication efforts with the outbreak of the Wild Polio Virus in Borno State, after about two years without any case, and he promptly directed the immediate release of N9.8billion to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) to contain the outbreak.
President Buhari acknowledges the immense contribution of traditional and religious leaders who mobilized communities to accept immunization and other government programmes.
The final theatre of the polio eradication fight was particularly championed by the Northern Traditional Leaders Committee on Polio Eradication and Primary Health Care under the guidance of His Highness, Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Saad Abubakar, and strategic leadership of late Shehu of Bama, Alh. Kyari Ibn Umar El-Kanemi.