Gombe
UNICEF, Gombe Intensify Polio Fight as 900,000 Children Targeted in Vaccination Drive
UNICEF, Gombe Intensify Polio Fight as 900,000 Children Targeted in Vaccination Drive
By Auwal Ahmad, Gombe
The ongoing Immunisation Plus Days campaign in Gombe State has gathered momentum, with UNICEF and state health officials expressing optimism that the exercise will record wider coverage and bring the state closer to a polio-free status.
Speaking with journalists shortly after an evening review meeting in Gombe, the Chief of UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, described the 2026 campaign as critical to Nigeria’s final push to eradicate polio.
She said Gombe State had shown strong commitment to the campaign, noting that the state government and its health team were working intensively to ensure that no eligible child was left behind.
According to her, the five-day exercise began with flag-off activities at both the state and local government levels, followed by outreach to communities considered hard-to-reach and underserved.
“This campaign is very important because Nigeria must completely get rid of polio. Gombe is doing its best and trying very hard to reach that status,” she said.
Dr. Rafique commended Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya and the state health leadership for what she described as unwavering commitment, adding that the daily review meetings were helping partners to track progress and quickly address challenges.
She said the level of community involvement, social mobilisation, and training of health personnel had been encouraging, with traditional rulers and emirs taking visible ownership of the campaign.
According to her, many of the flag-off ceremonies were held in palaces of traditional rulers, a development she said had strengthened trust and local participation.
“Traditional leaders are not just supporting this campaign, they are owning it and leading it alongside the government and partners,” she added.
Dr. Rafique disclosed that UNICEF had provided more than 965,000 doses of oral polio vaccine to support the exercise in Gombe, while the state had put in place the necessary cold chain and distribution system to preserve the vaccines and move them to vaccination teams across the local government areas.
She said the campaign was targeting about 900,000 children, while also paying special attention to more than 50,000 zero-dose children — children who have never received routine immunisation.
She stressed that reaching such children remained one of the most important goals of the campaign.
“Zero-dose children are a very important concern for all of us. We need to reach every one of them, and that is why UNICEF, WHO and the government are working together very closely,” she said.
On reports of discrepancies observed by monitors in the field between expected standards and what some vaccinators were doing, Dr. Rafique said such observations were not unusual in large public health campaigns.
She explained that UNICEF and its partners deliberately set very high standards for quality and accountability, which often meant that supervisors were expected to identify gaps and correct them quickly.
“Gombe is doing a very good job, but there is always room for improvement. That is why we go to the field, review what is happening and discuss how to improve coverage and quality,” she said.
Although she declined to give a final figure for children vaccinated so far, she said early reports showed that over 60 per cent of daily targets were being met, while cautioning that final figures would only become clearer after all delayed field data had been collated.
She noted that she had personally visited communities in Funakaye, Dukku and Akko during the campaign and observed strong commitment from frontline workers and local leaders.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Gombe State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Abdulrahaman Shu’aibu, said the state had carried out extensive advocacy and mobilisation ahead of the campaign.
He said the sensitisation effort covered the state, local government and ward levels, and involved traditional rulers, religious leaders, women groups and youth organisations.
According to him, the strategy was designed to reduce vaccine rejection and improve acceptance across communities.
He, however, admitted that despite the widespread engagement, some pockets of resistance still existed in parts of the state.
Dr. Shu’aibu said health authorities would continue to rely on trusted community voices to overcome such resistance and reassure parents about the safety and importance of vaccination.
“It is not only in Gombe; across the country, there are still some pockets of non-compliance. What we do is continue to sensitise people and work with community and religious leaders who have the trust of the people,” he said.
He added that years of sustained advocacy had already begun to yield results, with routine immunisation coverage improving across several antigens in the state.
On the composition of vaccination teams, the executive secretary explained that each team consisted of three personnel selected from within their local communities to ensure familiarity, trust and easier access to households.
He said the team members were trained before deployment and also received daily refresher sessions at take-off points to improve their performance throughout the exercise.
“Sometimes there are training gaps, but what we do is provide daily refresher training to keep them updated and improve their delivery in the field,” he said.
Dr. Shu’aibu expressed confidence that the 2026 campaign would surpass previous performance levels, saying health officials were targeting more than 95 per cent coverage by the end of the exercise.
He also appealed to parents and caregivers to present all eligible children between 0 and 59 months for vaccination, insisting that the oral polio vaccine was safe, effective and free of charge.
He said some of the resistance encountered in communities was being addressed through direct engagement with religious leaders, councillors and other respected local figures invited to participate in evening review meetings.
According to him, these influencers often help break down mistrust and encourage parents to cooperate with health workers.
At Dawaki Ajiya, one of the communities visited during the exercise, a mother of five, Jamila Jibrin Chiroma, said she had allowed all her children to be vaccinated because she believed immunisation was important for their health and protection against disease.
Her decision reflects the growing acceptance that health officials say is necessary if Gombe is to eliminate polio transmission and protect every child from preventable illness.
The campaign continues across the state with health teams moving from house to house, while supervisors and partners monitor compliance, resolve challenges and intensify efforts in settlements yet to be fully covered.
Inuwa, Army Vow to Sustain Gombe’s Peace Through Stronger Partnership
By Auwal Ahmad
Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, and the newly appointed General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Nigerian Army’s 3 Division, Major General WM Dangana, on Wednesday pledged to deepen collaboration between the state government and the military to preserve the state’s relative peace and strengthen security across the region.
The commitment was made during a courtesy visit by Major General Dangana to the Government House in Gombe as part of his familiarisation tour following his recent appointment.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Yahaya said peace and security remained the foundation for development, stressing that his administration would continue working closely with the Nigerian Army and other security agencies to safeguard lives and property.
The governor said stronger collaboration among security agencies had become increasingly important as political activities gather momentum across the country.
“We must continue to work together and deepen our synergy in our collective responsibility of providing robust security for our people. Everything revolves around peace and security. Despite the increasing political activities, Gombe State will remain the peaceful state it has always been,” Mr Yahaya said.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting the military and other security agencies through the provision of operational logistics to improve their effectiveness and boost the morale of personnel.
Governor Yahaya also commended the Nigerian Army and other security agencies for their sacrifices in tackling insurgency, criminality and other security challenges, describing their efforts as vital to national peace and stability.
He expressed confidence that the existing relationship between the Gombe State Government and the Nigerian Army would be further strengthened under the leadership of Major General Dangana.
Earlier, the new GOC said his visit was part of a familiarisation tour of military formations under the 3 Division following the recent redeployment of senior officers in the Nigerian Army.
Major General Dangana said the division is responsible for military operations across Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa and Taraba states, adding that the tour would enable him to assess operational activities within the command.
The senior military officer said he was encouraged by the security situation in Gombe, describing the state as relatively peaceful.
“I came to see the state of formations under my purview and I am particularly pleased to observe that Gombe State remains relatively peaceful and secure. We also had a warm, pleasant and fruitful discussion with His Excellency,” he said.
Major General Dangana commended Governor Inuwa Yahaya for the support his administration has consistently provided to the Nigerian Army and other security agencies, saying the cooperation had contributed to maintaining peace in the state.
“I must commend His Excellency for the support and cooperation he has consistently extended to our troops here in Gombe. It is my commitment to build on the peace and security already recorded and to further strengthen our collaboration with the state government in ensuring a safe and secure environment for all,” the army commander said.
Gombe Governor Suspends Acting DPP, Orders Probe Over Misconduct Allegations
By Auwal Ahmad Umar
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has approved the suspension of the Acting Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in the state Ministry of Justice, Abubakar Jungudo, pending the outcome of an investigation into allegations of misconduct levelled against him.
The governor also constituted a high-level investigative panel to examine the complaints against the senior legal officer.
The decision was announced in a statement issued on Saturday by the Director-General of Press Affairs, Government House Gombe, Ismaila Uba Misilli, and made available to journalists.
According to the statement, the approval was conveyed by the Head of Civil Service, Professor Mu’azu Shehu, who said Governor Inuwa Yahaya acted after carefully reviewing the nature and seriousness of the allegations contained in the petition against the Acting DPP.
Professor Shehu explained that the suspension takes immediate effect and is intended to ensure an impartial and unhindered investigation in line with established civil service procedures and the principles of due process.
“The Governor, having carefully considered the nature and gravity of the allegations, directed the immediate suspension of the Acting Director of Public Prosecutions pending the outcome of the investigation,” the statement said.
He added that the action reflects the administration’s commitment to accountability, transparency and fairness in the conduct of public affairs.
To lead the investigation, the governor appointed Hon. Justice Haruna Habila Kereng of the Gombe State High Court as chairman of the panel.
Other members include a director from the Ministry of Justice, representatives of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Gombe, and the Department of State Services (DSS).
The Permanent Secretary, Establishment and Service Matters in the Office of the Head of Civil Service, will serve as secretary of the panel.
The committee has been directed to commence work immediately, investigate all the allegations, examine relevant evidence, and submit its findings and recommendations to Governor Inuwa Yahaya through the Office of the Head of Civil Service.
Gombe Eyes Livestock-Led Economic Growth as Inuwa Yahaya Meets Minister
By Auwal Ahmad Umar
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has intensified efforts to position the state as a leading livestock investment destination after holding talks with the Minister of Livestock Development, Mukhtar Idi Maiha, on strengthening collaboration to drive reforms in Nigeria’s livestock sector.
The meeting, held in Abuja, focused on deepening cooperation between Gombe and the Federal Government to attract investment, strengthen livestock value chains and fast-track projects aimed at transforming the sector into a major contributor to economic growth and job creation.
The Director-General of Press Affairs, Government House, Gombe, Ismaila, Uba, Misilli, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday.
The engagement comes as Gombe continues to align its development strategy with the Federal Government’s livestock reform agenda following the creation of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Inuwa Yahaya said his administration remained committed to leveraging partnerships with the Federal Government, development partners and private investors to unlock the economic potential of the livestock industry.
“Gombe State is ready to continue working closely with the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, development partners and private investors to deliver sustainable, investment-driven solutions that will strengthen the livestock economy, create wealth and expand opportunities for our citizens,” the governor said.
He described the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development as a landmark reform with the potential to modernise Nigeria’s livestock industry, boost exports and diversify the country’s economy.
“The establishment of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is one of the Federal Government’s most strategic economic reforms. It has the potential to reposition Nigeria as a major player in the global livestock industry,” he said.
To complement the Federal Government’s initiative, the Gombe State Government recently established the Ministry of Livestock Development to provide policy direction, coordinate programmes and facilitate investment in the sector.
A key component of the state’s strategy is the development of an 184-hectare Livestock and Agro-Industrial Hub under the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES).
According to the state government, the hub will feature an ultra-modern abattoir with the capacity to process 500 cattle, more than 2,000 sheep and goats, and over 10,000 poultry birds daily. It will also accommodate an International Livestock Market, an International Grains and Animal Feed Market, a Modern Timber Market and an Inland Dry Port to improve agricultural trade and logistics.
Other planned facilities include a modern poultry production hub, a veterinary hospital, a leather processing and manufacturing complex, and a waste-to-energy and organic fertiliser plant, as well as supporting infrastructure such as roads, electricity and water supply.
The government said the integrated project is expected to generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs, attract local and foreign investment, reduce post-harvest losses and strengthen the livestock value chain across the state and beyond.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya was accompanied to the meeting by the Gombe State Commissioner for Livestock Development, Hon. Sa’idu Baba Alkali.
The Federal Government created the Ministry of Livestock Development in 2024 as part of broader efforts to modernise Nigeria’s livestock industry, improve productivity and encourage investment in animal production, processing and exports. Gombe is among the states seeking to leverage the reforms to expand agribusiness, stimulate industrialisation and diversify its economy beyond traditional revenue sources.
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