President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated fellow citizens as Nigeria receives Wild Polio Virus Free certification.
The President made this known in a statement released by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja.
President Buhari says the achievement reflects the resilient spirit of Nigerians, particularly the capacity of hardworking men and women in the health sector, who have worked tirelessly to eradicate the deadly virus.
He stresses that the attainment of a polio free status is based on a tough battle spanning over three decades of hard work and dedication by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).
PMB further acknowledges contributions of the Global Health Canada, German Development Bank (KfW), WHO, UNICEF, Nigeria Governor’s Forum, Polio Survivors Group, the Media, Faith-Based and other Non-Governmental Organizations.
He appreciates the immense contribution of traditional and religious leaders who mobilized communities to accept immunization and other government programmes.
“The final theatre of the polio eradication fight was particularly championed by the Northern Traditional Leaders Committee on Polio Eradication and Primary Health Care (NTLC) under the guidance of His Highness, Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Saad Abubakar, and strategic leadership of late Shehu of Bama, Alhaji Kyari Ibn Umar El-Kanemi. “We thank you all for the leadership and partnership over the years”.