Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has identified Nigeria as the country with the highest number of “zero-dose” children in Africa, warning that an estimated 2.2 million children have never received a single routine vaccine, in a development that underscores persistent gaps in immunisation coverage and primary healthcare delivery.
The warning was issued by UNICEF’s Nigeria Country Representative, Wafaa Saeed, during the flag-off of the Republic of Korea–UNICEF Investment in Routine Immunisation programme held in Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos State. The initiative forms part of a broader international effort to strengthen vaccination systems and reduce preventable childhood diseases in vulnerable communities.
Saeed described the situation not merely as a statistical concern but as a pressing humanitarian and development challenge, noting that the affected children are often concentrated in fragile urban settlements, border communities, conflict-affected regions, and remote areas where access to healthcare services remains limited or inconsistent.
She stressed that the 2.2 million children classified as zero-dose represent a systemic failure in equity and access rather than a failure of medical science. Vaccines, she noted, are effective and widely available, but their reach is constrained by structural challenges within health delivery systems.
According to her, the current situation reflects longstanding disparities in service delivery, requiring stronger political commitment, improved infrastructure, and sustained collaboration between government institutions and international partners. She emphasized that ensuring equitable access to immunisation is both a moral obligation and a critical component of public health security.
The UNICEF official explained that the new partnership with the Republic of Korea is designed to support Nigeria’s efforts to close immunisation gaps by strengthening existing national and sub-national healthcare systems. The programme aims to improve vaccine delivery, rebuild public trust in immunisation, and expand outreach to underserved populations, particularly in hard-to-reach communities.
She commended the Government of the Republic of Korea for its continued support, describing the partnership as an important demonstration of global solidarity in addressing preventable childhood diseases. According to her, the investment reflects confidence in Nigeria’s capacity to implement large-scale public health interventions when adequately supported.
Saeed also highlighted the role of local institutions, including the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and state-level health boards, for prioritising zero-dose children in their national health strategies. She noted that targeted interventions in high-burden local government areas are critical to reducing inequities in healthcare access.
She pointed to Lagos State, particularly Badagry Local Government Area, as a clear example of the uneven distribution of healthcare services. Even in relatively developed urban environments, she said, pockets of exclusion persist, leaving some children entirely unprotected against preventable diseases.
In his remarks, Lee Sang Ho, Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Lagos, explained that the immunisation initiative is part of the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A) investment framework implemented in partnership with UNICEF. The broader programme was designed to strengthen global health systems in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on vaccine equity and preparedness for future health emergencies.
He noted that the Republic of Korea’s total contribution to the ACT-A partnership amounts to $70 million over three years, distributed across multiple phases and countries. In the first year, $20 million was allocated to 22 countries, followed by $30 million between 2024 and 2025 for 34 countries, and a final tranche of $20 million between 2025 and 2026 targeting 12 countries.
Of the final allocation, $5.6 million has been earmarked specifically for Nigeria’s immunisation programme, which will run for one year. The project is expected to support interventions across 40 local government areas in selected states, including Lagos, Ogun, Niger, Bauchi, Adamawa, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Lee explained that Nigeria’s inclusion in the programme was based on both the scale of its zero-dose population and the global implications of unvaccinated children in a country with such a large population. He warned that gaps in immunisation coverage in Nigeria could pose broader risks to global health security due to the potential spread of vaccine-preventable diseases.
Health experts have long expressed concern about Nigeria’s immunisation rates, citing factors such as inadequate healthcare infrastructure, vaccine hesitancy in some communities, logistical challenges in rural areas, and periodic disruptions caused by insecurity. These issues have contributed to uneven coverage and left millions of children vulnerable to diseases such as measles, polio, and diphtheria.
Despite ongoing efforts by the federal and state governments, supported by international partners, Nigeria continues to struggle with achieving universal immunisation coverage. Health authorities have previously launched several campaigns aimed at increasing vaccine uptake, but persistent gaps remain, particularly in underserved and hard-to-reach regions.
UNICEF reiterated that addressing the problem requires more than financial investment, emphasizing the importance of community engagement, trust-building, and consistent service delivery. The agency also highlighted the need for sustained political commitment at all levels of government to ensure that immunisation becomes a routine and accessible service for every child.
The organisation stressed that reaching zero-dose children is not only a health priority but also a foundation for broader development outcomes, including improved education, reduced child mortality, and stronger economic productivity in the long term.
As the new partnership begins implementation, attention will be focused on whether targeted investments and strengthened systems can significantly reduce the number of unvaccinated children in Nigeria. For now, the figures presented by UNICEF serve as a stark reminder of the scale of the challenge and the urgency of coordinated action.
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