US billionaire Bill Gates has vowed to help end the scourge of polio in Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, still blighted by the debilitating disease.
"This is my fourth visit to Nigeria and every year I come I see us get closer to our goal of polio eradication," Gates said at a stakeholders' forum on the issue.
Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote, attended the forum, as did President Goodluck Jonathan and other dignatories and religious leaders including the supreme head of Muslims in Nigeria, the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa'Ad Abubakar.
"I have decided to be in partnership with you and I will be excited when we reach this milestone and (there is) no more polio" in the country, Gates said.
Gates, wearing a traditional Nigerian flowing gown, or boubou, said some parts of the country were slowing the overall progress made because they had failed to run campaigns and do follow-up work.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
He urged a presidential task force working on polio eradication "to track these gaps", urging greater interaction between campaigners.
