A non-governmental organisation, New Incentives–All Babies Are Equal, has reported a major financial and operational intervention in its drive to improve routine immunisation across Northern Nigeria, revealing that it disbursed approximately N1.594 billion in January 2026 to caregivers across 11 states.
According to its January 2026 Programme Report, the initiative reached 172,265 infants within the period, marking a significant expansion in coverage while also exposing persistent systemic gaps affecting immunisation delivery across the region.
The organisation noted that the programme was supported by a large field network, with 2,287 field officers deployed to manage disbursement activities, coordinate operations, and engage directly with caregivers and local communities to ensure participation and accountability.
Across the reporting period, 43,915 disbursement sessions were conducted, reflecting the scale of the intervention and the level of engagement required to sustain such a widespread public health programme. In addition to direct financial support, the organisation also intensified its outreach efforts to stimulate demand for vaccination.
It carried out 9,547 outreach campaigns alongside 873 community awareness activities, targeting increased understanding of the importance of childhood immunisation, addressing misinformation, and encouraging caregivers to complete vaccination schedules for their children.
Geographically, Kano State emerged as the highest-performing state in terms of enrolment, with 42,910 infants registered under the programme. It was followed by Katsina and Bauchi States, while Zamfara and Sokoto recorded the lowest enrolment figures during the period under review.
Beyond its primary health objectives, the programme also generated fiscal benefits, remitting N28.57 million as Pay-As-You-Earn taxes to state governments, highlighting its contribution to local economies and public revenue streams.
In terms of immunisation outcomes, the report showed that Katsina State recorded the highest Penta 3 coverage rate at 87.6 per cent. It was closely followed by Jigawa, Kano, and Gombe States, all of which demonstrated strong uptake of routine childhood vaccines.
Five states—Katsina, Jigawa, Kano, Gombe, and Kaduna—met or surpassed the 80 per cent coverage threshold, a benchmark widely recognised as necessary for achieving herd immunity and reducing the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases within communities.
Despite these achievements, the report underscored significant disparities across the region. Sokoto State recorded the lowest Penta 3 coverage, while Niger and Kebbi also lagged behind, leaving a substantial number of infants partially or not fully immunised, particularly in remote and underserved communities.
The report further highlighted intra-state disparities, showing that immunisation performance varied widely even within the same state. In Kebbi State, Bagudu Local Government Area recorded particularly low coverage, while in Niger State, Magama and Borgu LGAs also underperformed relative to others.
Similarly, in Sokoto State, several LGAs, including Tureta, Wurno, and Bodinga, were identified as low-performing areas in terms of Penta 3 coverage, reinforcing concerns about uneven access to healthcare services across local jurisdictions.
One of the most significant challenges identified in the report was the issue of vaccine stockouts. Frequent shortages of vaccines at health facilities disrupted immunisation schedules and undermined the ability of caregivers to complete vaccination cycles for their children.
The situation was particularly severe in Niger and Yobe States, where high stockout rates per session indicated that multiple vaccines were often unavailable at the same time, thereby limiting the effectiveness of immunisation sessions.
Interestingly, even in states with relatively strong overall performance such as Katsina, stockouts remained a recurring issue, suggesting that high coverage was being achieved despite persistent supply chain constraints.
Conversely, Sokoto State recorded fewer stockouts per 100 sessions but still reported the lowest immunisation coverage, indicating that demand-side challenges such as limited awareness, access barriers, or vaccine hesitancy may be influencing outcomes in the state.
The report also identified specific local government areas facing extreme supply chain challenges. These included Toro in Bauchi State, Funtua in Katsina State, and Katcha in Niger State, where repeated stockouts pointed to deeper systemic issues affecting vaccine distribution and availability.
However, the report also highlighted encouraging examples of high-performing communities. Gulani Local Government Area in Yobe State achieved near-universal Penta 3 coverage as well as full measles immunisation coverage, demonstrating that strong outcomes are possible even in challenging environments.
Other notable high-performing LGAs included Kaltungo in Gombe State, Warawa and Makoda in Kano State, and Mani in Katsina State, all of which recorded Penta 3 coverage rates exceeding 90 per cent during the reporting period.
The organisation emphasised that while financial incentives have proven effective in increasing immunisation uptake among caregivers, they are not sufficient on their own to guarantee universal coverage.
It stressed the need for stronger vaccine supply chains, improved logistics, and more consistent availability of vaccines at health facilities, alongside continued community engagement and awareness campaigns to address hesitancy and misinformation.
Ultimately, the report highlighted that achieving equitable and sustainable immunisation coverage across Northern Nigeria will require a coordinated effort involving government institutions, development partners, and local communities.
While the programme has demonstrated measurable progress in increasing vaccine uptake and expanding access, the findings also point to the need for long-term structural improvements to ensure that no child is left behind in access to life-saving immunisation services.
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