The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to reduce malaria parasite by 50% prevalence and mortality in 2030.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, stated this Wednesday at a press briefing and roundtable discussion for the commemoration of World Malaria Day 2026 in Abuja.
He said this year’s theme: “Driven to End Malaria: Now We Can,” speaks to the opportunity, but for Nigeria, the message must be even stronger.
Dr said: “Now we must act with urgency and purpose, sustain our investments and strengthen our partnerships. And we must remain focused until malaria is no longer a threat to the health, dignity, and prosperity of the people.
He stated that Nigeria is treating malaria elimination as an urgent national priority, and backing that commitment with concrete action, strategic partnerships, and renewed determination.
Dr Salako said: “We tend to refer to malaria as ordinary malaria. But there is nothing ordinary about malaria, it is a disease that continues to claim the lives of children, endanger pregnant women, weaken families, reduce productivity and impose high costs on our health system and economy.
“Malaria remains one of the greatest public health threats facing our country, and its burden continues to fall most heavily on the most vulnerable among us.
“According to the World Malaria Report 2025, Nigeria accounts for 24% of global malaria cases and 31% of global malaria deaths. These are not just statistics, it represents human lives, grieving families, interrupted futures, and lost national potential.”
The minister noted that Nigeria has made significant progress and the country statistics, Malaria Indicator Survey 2025 shows that its prevalence has declined to 15%, down from 42% in 2010, when the first survey was conducted.
Dr. Salako stated that Nigeria has continued to roll out malaria vaccine. which began in December 2024 in Kebbi and Bayelsa states and has now been extended to Bauchi and Ondo states, reaching children aged 5 to 23 months with over 700,000 children benefiting from preventive malaria intervention.
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