The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has inaugurated a reformed National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) dedicated to polio eradication, signalling a renewed push to eliminate the disease in Nigeria.
The Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of NPHCDA, Dr Muyi Aina, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja that the initiative goes beyond a structural reorganisation.
Aina described the reformed NEOC as a collective commitment by stakeholders to finally eradicate polio in the country.
He emphasised a renewed focus on accountability and results, urging partners and institutions to prioritise action, data and evidence rather than routine meetings.
“To every partner, institution, and individual, your role is crucial. This is about all of us. The work starts now. Let’s chase down every poliovirus, together,” he said.
Aina explained that the restructured NEOC is expected to improve coordination among government agencies, international partners and local stakeholders, thereby strengthening surveillance, vaccination campaigns and outbreak response efforts nationwide.
NAN reports that health experts say the development comes at a critical time, as Nigeria continues to record sporadic polio cases, particularly circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2).
They noted that the renewed emphasis on collaboration and data-driven interventions is aimed at achieving a polio-free Nigeria.
Nigeria has been central to global polio eradication efforts for decades. At its peak, the country accounted for a significant proportion of global polio cases, with transmission in northern Nigeria contributing to outbreaks across West Africa in the early 2000s.
Sustained vaccination campaigns and improved surveillance significantly reduced wild poliovirus transmission.
In 2015, the World Health Organisation (WHO) removed Nigeria from the list of polio-endemic countries after more than a year without a reported wild polio case.
In 2020, Nigeria and the entire African region were officially certified free of wild poliovirus, marking a major public health milestone.
However, health authorities note that the fight is not yet over. While wild poliovirus has been eliminated, cVDPV2 — a rare form of the virus that can emerge in under-immunised populations — continues to cause cases in some parts of the country.
Epidemiological data from 2024 and 2025 indicate persistent cVDPV2 cases across several states, although overall numbers declined by about 40 per cent compared to the previous year.
With support from the WHO and other partners, Nigeria is intensifying surveillance and response efforts to ensure rapid detection of any virus circulation and close existing immunisation gaps.
The strategy aligns with the Polio Eradication Roadmap 2022–2026, which seeks to end all forms of poliovirus transmission through strengthened detection systems, targeted vaccination and improved accountability.
Experts say the reformed NEOC initiative is timely, as it aims to consolidate previous gains while addressing remaining challenges through better coordination, evidence-based action and stronger stakeholder commitment.