Nigeria is firmly committed to ensuring that polio is totally eradicated from all communities all over the country, President Muhammadu Buhari, said on Thursday.
Buhari said this at a meeting of the Presidential Task Force on Polio Eradication at the State House in Abuja.
The President, who was represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said government is making efforts to efforts to combat the spread of the deadly disease in the country.
He, therefore, charged governors of the 36 states of the federation, especially those with new cases of the disease in their domain, to tackle polio with all the seriousness and commitment it deserves.
He said the federal government is committed to opening up access in communities involved to ensure proper vaccination.
In his remarks, Health Minister, Professor Isaac Adewole, said the government has deployed all available resources for the coordination and management of outbreak response, particularly in areas where children are inaccessible due to insurgency.
The minister, who presented the country’s position on efforts to combat polio, told stakeholders of federal government’s commitment towards eradication of polio, especially the prompt release of budgeted funds in the 2016 budget.
Speaking on behalf of the governors, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Governor Abdulazeez Yari of Zamfara state, said governors would continue to partner with the Federal Government towards eradication of polio in the country.
