By Umar Faruk
Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria — April 28, 2026(Series News Online)- International development agencies have commended the Kebbi State Government for its investments in primary healthcare delivery and ongoing efforts to eradicate polio in the state.
The commendation came from the United Nations Children’s Fund, the World Health Organization, and the United Nations Development Programme during a courtesy visit to the State Council Chamber in Birnin Kebbi.
UNICEF Country Representative in Nigeria, Wafaa Saeed, conveyed condolences to the government and people of Kebbi State over the recent death of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly.
“We commiserate with you on the loss of the Speaker. We pray for divine mercy on his soul and for strength and comfort for the government and people of Kebbi State,” she said.
Saeed praised Governor Nasir Idris for placing healthcare at the center of his administration’s agenda, citing the state-supported health insurance scheme as evidence of his commitment to vulnerable groups.
“I met an elderly beneficiary of the state health insurance scheme, and that encounter showed me your administration’s resolve to restore dignity and improve the welfare of vulnerable citizens,” she stated.
She said Kebbi’s interventions in healthcare, social welfare, and workers’ welfare — including payment of an improved minimum wage and support for widows — demonstrated compassionate and inclusive governance.
On polio, Saeed recalled that Nigeria was certified free of wild poliovirus in 2020. She added that Kebbi now has a chance to lead the elimination of vaccine-derived polio.
“Kebbi State can lead in eliminating vaccine-derived polio through stronger immunization campaigns, better coordination at the local government level, and deeper collaboration with traditional and religious leaders,” she said.
She also emphasized the importance of routine immunization and commended the state for absorbing more than 500 health workers previously supported by the Gavi Alliance.
“This is a bold step toward ensuring long-term sustainability in healthcare delivery,” Saeed noted.
WHO Country Representative, Pavel Ursu, applauded the state government for its strategic investments across primary, secondary, and tertiary health systems.
“We commend the Kebbi State Government for its investments in human resources and health infrastructure,” Ursu said.
He observed that improved surveillance systems and data quality in the state had strengthened capacity to track health outcomes and respond to disease outbreaks, particularly polio.
“The commitment and professionalism of frontline health workers across the facilities we visited were visible,” he added.
UNDP Northwest Representative, Asharaf Usman, commended Governor Idris for his leadership in tackling development challenges and announced plans to extend UNDP’s peace and security programme to Kebbi State.
“The programme will focus on livelihoods, governance, and the stabilization of vulnerable communities,” Usman said.
He explained that UNDP would work closely with the state government to design interventions tailored to local challenges.
“We will address border security concerns and support displaced populations, and we seek the Governor’s continued guidance and policy direction,” he stated.
In his response, Governor Nasir Idris restated his administration’s commitment to deepening partnerships with international development agencies.
“Such collaborations are critical to addressing challenges in healthcare, education, security, and economic development,” the governor said.
He disclosed that his government had revitalized 22 general hospitals, 179 primary healthcare centers, and 63 dispensaries across the state.
“We have enrolled 45,000 vulnerable individuals in the state health insurance scheme, in addition to other beneficiaries supported by UNICEF,” Idris said.
The governor further revealed that over 2,000 health workers had been recruited.
“We have also approved N1.7 billion for the revitalization of additional primary healthcare centers and N1.3 billion for procurement of medical equipment. This underscores our commitment to accessible and quality healthcare services,” he added.
The event featured the presentation of 45 motorcycles donated by UNICEF to improve the mobility of healthcare personnel in hard-to-reach communities.
A technical briefing on polio vaccination coverage was also delivered by the Executive Secretary of the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Alhaji Abubakar Muhammad Noma.
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