Borno State has reduced its circulating variant polio virus cases from eight in 2025 to three in 2026, highlighting ongoing efforts in vaccination and community outreach. UNICEF emphasises the need for continued immunisation campaigns to achieve a polio-free future.
UNICEF says Borno State has cut its reported circulating variant polio virus cases from eight in 2025 to three in 2026, a decline it described as evidence that sustained vaccination and community outreach are beginning to pay off. Francis Butichi, the agency’s Maiduguri field chief, said the progress reflects the work of government officials, health workers, community leaders, partners, volunteers and caregivers across the state.
But Butichi cautioned that the task is far from complete. “Three cases are still one too many, and our goal remains clear: zero polio cases in Borno State,” he said, arguing that the reduction should be seen as momentum rather than a victory. He added that the coming immunisation campaign in October and November would be crucial to reaching children who remain unprotected and closing the remaining gaps in immunity.
The remarks came during a football match in Maiduguri organised for polio survivors ahead of World Polio Day on 24 October 2026. UNICEF said the event was intended to represent unity among survivors, families, government agencies and health partners, while also drawing attention to the need to strengthen primary healthcare so that every child can access vaccination and other basic services. Butichi thanked the Borno State government, the media and other stakeholders for their support, and said the ultimate measure of success would be a state in which no child suffers from polio again.
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