Emir of Dutse Condemns Disinformation on Polio Vaccine Safety in Nigeria

In a concerted effort to dispel misinformation on the safety of the polio vaccine in parts of Nigeria, the Emir of Dutse, Hamim Nuhu-Sanusi, led a delegation to a polio vaccine-noncompliant community to administer the first dose of the vaccine to children under five. The Emir emphasized that the polio vaccine is effective in building the immune system of children under five years of age and that false claims about its safety and efficacy, such as causing infertility, are baseless propaganda. The event was part of the Jigawa State Ministry of Health's mass immunisation campaign targeting about two million children in the state, in collaboration with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The campaign aims to eradicate polio, which was certified polio-free in Nigeria in 2013, but is still witnessing some variants of the polio virus.

Key Takeaways:

• The Emir of Dutse condemned disinformation on the safety of the polio vaccine in parts of Nigeria, emphasizing its effectiveness in building the immune system of children under five years of age.
• False claims about the polio vaccine's safety and efficacy, such as causing infertility, are baseless propaganda, according to the Emir.
• The Jigawa State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with UNICEF, launched a mass immunisation campaign targeting about two million children in the state to eradicate polio.
• The campaign aims to stop the variant of the polio virus not only in Jigawa State but in the country, with a target of reaching two million children across the 27 LGAs.
• The Emir highlighted that vaccines have addressed the sicknesses that were prevalent in northern Nigeria.
• The Dutse local council chairperson, Sibu Abdullahi, laid the foundation for a primary healthcare post at the event, planning to build five more primary healthcare posts this year to increase routine immunisation.
• The Executive Secretary of Jigawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (PHCDA), Shehu Sambo, represented by a health ministry director, Hassan Shuaibu, emphasized the state's struggle with key indicators, especially around routine immunisation.

Statistics:

• 18 polio cases were reported across 18 local government areas in nine states in 2025.
• Two of the cases occurred in the Hadejia and Sule Tankarkar LGAs of Jigawa State.
• The campaign aims to reach two million children across the 27 LGAs.

Sources:

• "Emir of Dutse condemns disinformation on polio vaccine safety" (Premium Times)
• "Jigawa State Ministry of Health, UNICEF launch mass immunisation campaign" (Premium Times)
• "Nigeria certified polio-free in 2013" (World Health Organization)
• "African Vaccination Week" (World Health Organization)
• "UNICEF Field Office Kano" (UNICEF)
• "Jigawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (PHCDA)" (Jigawa State Government)