Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday chaired the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The meeting has in attendance the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazak.
The Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, was also present at the meeting.
Other attendees are governors of Zamfara, Jigawa, Lagos, Anambra, Gombe, Imo, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Benue, and Ondo states, as well as the Rivers State Sole Administrator.
At the end of the meeting, the Council said Nigeria recorded a reduction in the new variant Type-2 Polio virus from 78 cases in 2024 to 42 cases as of August 2025.
The Governor of Gombe State and Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, Inuwa Yahaya, who briefed State House Correspondents shortly after the meeting, however, said Sokoto State is still at high risk.
“Today, we updated the Council on our progress and the achievements. The committee was principally set up to see to the stoppage of the circulating virus two, which is a new variant, and it is more prevalent in the states of the North West, particularly Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara. Also, there was a case in 2024 in Gombe.
“The progress so far made has shown that there is a downward trend, from about 78 cases in 2024 as at the 33rd week, which is the week of our last meeting in August. Now it has gone down to 42 cases.
Also, Kano and Katsina states, particularly, have recorded 85% and 84% reductions respectively, while Gombe has no case at all this year.
“Sokoto is at the back of the seat. So far, out of the 23 cases recorded in 2025, Sokoto has 13 cases, and so the committee has reported that and will discuss with the governor of Sokoto state with a view to strategising and see that they give effective coverage and ensure that routine immunization reaches all the people,” Yahaya said.