Traditional leaders across the country have been commended for their invaluable support in advancing immunization and other PHC programs. Dr. Muyi Aina, the Executive Director/CEO of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) made the commendation at the second quarter review meeting of the Northern Traditional Leaders Committee on PHC delivery (NTLC). He saluted the work and sacrifice the leadership of the NTLC and members have made to promote routine immunization, polio eradication, disease control and primary health care in the 16 years of the existence of the committee, saying, ‘the work that the NTLC leadership and members have done for routine immunization, for polio eradication, for disease control, for primary health care, is a sacrifice (as)it is not rewarded’. “Your voices, influence and leadership continue to inspire us and also inspire trust in the communities that you lead to ensure that no child is left behind,” Dr. Aina said.
The NPHCDA ED/CEO informed the royal fathers that the Agency was making significant progress in its polio eradication efforts, following introduction of the Strategic Shift in polio campaigns earlier this year. He revealed that the circulating variant polio virus type 2 (cVPV2) currently circulating in Nigeria has declined by 46% as of the week August 11, 2025, compared to same period in 2024, while training quality has improved, resulting in increased vaccination coverage, with more settlements being reached, including reaching 544,000 children in insecure areas and 54,000 zero-dose children in the last year.
Dr. Aina then urged the traditional leaders to sustain their advocacy, guidance to the vaccination teams, and the mobilization of their communities, decision-makers, caregivers, as these will continue to be paramount to any success that the Agency ‘can plan to achieve’. He assured them of the commitment of the Hon. Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, NPHCDA and the partnership, saying, ‘together, we will protect every child, strengthen primary health care, and bring Nigeria to the point where we want it to be, which is, at least in the case of polio, to consign the polio virus to history.’
Speaking at the meeting, the Patron of NTLC and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, affirmed the Royal Fathers’ commitment to ensuring the uptake of vaccines in their communities, saying, “We are hereby reaffirming our commitment to continue to do this job for the sake of our people, for the sake of our country…lets continue working for our people.”
The Chairman of NTLC and Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Sama’ila Mohammed Mera, urged members to remain committed, share experiences, and sustain efforts to end cVPV2 transmission. He noted that while progress has been made, challenges remain, especially with uptake of other vaccines and services during integrated campaigns.
The NTLC Q2 2025 meeting was held on Tuesday 26 August at Abuja. Other dignitaries at the meeting included the WHO country Representative, the UNICEF Country Representative of UNICEF, Gates Foundation Country Director and Rotary International National Chairman, who sent representatives, and the Regional Coordinator of AFENET.
