By Sadiq Sani Malami
The Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN) has urged the Sokoto State Government to increase Immunization Financing in 2026.
This was contained in a statement on the Sokoto State 2025 Immunization Budget Accountability Scorecard issued Friday by the AHBN Coordinator, Dr Aminu Magashi Garba.
According to him, the AHBN is working closely with its Communities of Practice (CoP) across Bauchi, Borno, Kano, and Sokoto States, it issued the statement to highlight key findings from the latest Immunization Budget Accountability Scorecard covering the 2025 fiscal year.
“Building on years of evidence-based tracking and citizen-led accountability, the scorecard examines government commitments to immunization financing, budget allocation, releases, and service delivery outcomes,” Dr Magashi said.
Health Reporters Newspaper reports that while the Zero Dose Learning Hub (ZDLH) initiative supported by GAVI with technical partnership from AFENET has formally concluded in December 2025, AHBN and the CoP remain committed to sustaining accountability efforts that promote equitable access to life-saving vaccines, particularly for zero-dose children in 2026 and beyond.
He said in 2025, the Sokoto State Government released ₦365 million for immunization programmes, marking a positive step toward strengthening routine immunization financing.
It was gathered that the progress was largely driven by sustained advocacy and engagement by AHBN’s Community of Practice, “a contribution publicly acknowledged by the Executive Secretary of the Sokoto State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Bilyaminu Balarabe Yari Sifawa, during the ZDLH End-of-Year Media Parley.”
Dr Magashi stated that, “while this development is commendable, the scorecard highlights opportunities to further strengthen data transparency and accessibility in the state. Improved availability of budget and performance data will enhance shared understanding and evidence-based decision-making.
“AHBN and the CoP therefore encourage the Sokoto State Ministry of Budget and Planning to leverage existing platforms, including government websites, to regularly publish timely and comprehensive quarterly budget performance reports,” he added.
