The Federal Government on Monday launched a new National Malaria Strategic Plan covering 2026 to 2030, setting an ambitious target of cutting malaria prevalence and mortality in half before the decade closes.
Minister of State for Health Iziaq Salako, who announced the plan at a World Malaria Day press conference in Abuja, warned Nigerians against treating the disease as routine. “There is nothing ordinary about malaria. It continues to claim the lives of children, endanger pregnant women, and weaken families and productivity,” he said.
The scale of Nigeria’s challenge is stark. Citing the 2025 World Malaria Report, the minister noted that Nigeria accounts for roughly 24 per cent of global malaria cases and more than 30 per cent of worldwide deaths from the disease.
Yet the government also pointed to measurable gains. Malaria prevalence fell from 42 per cent in 2010 to approximately 15 per cent in 2025, with no state currently classified as a high-transmission zone.
Also Read: Dangote Urges Government, Private Sector Action to Eliminate Malaria
The new strategy will lean on proven tools. Plans include expanding insecticide-treated net distribution to 11 states and the FCT in 2026, extending seasonal malaria chemoprevention to roughly 29 million children under five across 21 states, and scaling up vaccination — with over 700,000 children already reached in pilot states. Larval Source Management is also being piloted in six states to broaden the government’s control toolkit.
Salako stressed that the fight could not be won by government alone. “Malaria elimination cannot be achieved by the government alone. It requires a whole-of-society approach,” he said, calling on development partners, the private sector, and the media to sustain momentum.
The minister added that malaria elimination remains a declared priority under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, with the new plan aligned to both the WHO Global Technical Strategy and Nigeria’s own Sector-Wide Approach to health delivery.
Stay informed and ahead of the curve! Follow The National Concord Blog Newsletter for real-time updates, breaking news, and exclusive content. Don't miss a headline – join now below!
