PRESIDENT JONATHAN REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO POLIO ERADICATION

President Goodluck Jonathan affirmed Thursday at the Presidential Villa that the Federal Government remains fully committed to achieving the total eradication of polio from Nigeria before the end of the tenure of the present administration in 2015.
Speaking at an audience with a delegation of Rotary International led by the Chairman of the Rotary Foundation Trustees and past President of Rotary International, Mr. Wilfrid Wilkinson, President Jonathan said that the Federal Government will take all necessary action and work in close collaboration with its development partners and other stakeholders to overcome the challenges of ignorance, misinformation and security  as well as the cultural  and religious inhibitions that were currently hindering mass immunization against polio in parts of the country.
President Jonathan said that his administration was actively encouraging pro-polio immunization advocacy by respected religious leaders and traditional rulers as part of a multi-faceted strategy to ensure the success of the nationwide campaign.
"I promise you that we will continue to do our best because I do not want to hand over polio to the next administration," President Jonathan told the delegation which also included Chief Jonathan Majiyagbe, the first African President of Rotary International.
The leader of the delegation, Mr. Wilkinson assured President Jonathan that Rotary International will continue to commit resources and personnel in support of the Federal Government's efforts to eradicate polio from Nigeria.
President Jonathan had earlier received a Mexican Government delegation which was at the Presidential Villa to seek Nigeria's support for Mexico's candidate for the post of Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Welcoming the delegation, President Jonathan noted that the WTO had a very important role to play in global trade and economic development.

President Jonathan told the delegation which was led by Mrs. Lourdes Aranda Bezaury, a Special Envoy of President Enrique Pena Nieto that Africa needed someone at the WTO's helm who will positively address the continent's concerns over the restrictions that currently hinder the export of African products to other part of the world.

Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
March 14, 2013

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