President Muhammadu Buhari has welcomed yesterday’s announcement by the World Health Organisation that Nigeria is no longer a polio-endemic country.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said in a statement on Saturday that Buhari is delighted by the announcement which follows the absence of any case of the wild polio virus in Nigeria since July 24, 2014.
“The President applauds the concerted efforts of government officials, health workers, volunteer groups, civil society, religious leaders, traditional rulers and international partners which resulted in this historic achievement.
“While he joins other Nigerians and the global community in celebrating Nigeria’s removal from the list of polio-endemic countries, President Buhari urges continued vigilance to ensure that Nigeria maintains this new status”.
Also, the statement said President Buhari has directed all government ministries, departments and agencies involved in the polio eradication effort, to remain proactively engaged and on guard against the re-emergence of the polio virus in Nigeria.
He assured the WHO and the global community that the Federal Government will ensure that immunisation and surveillance activities continue across Nigeria to keep the country polio-free.
