The Federal Government has reported a decline in malaria prevalence among children aged six to 59 months, from 22 per cent in 2021 to 15.2 per cent in 2025, while setting a target to halve malaria prevalence and deaths by 2030.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja during the launch of the 2025 Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey (NMIS) Report and the National Malaria Strategic Plan 2026–2030. He was represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom Si.
Pate described the decline of 6.8 percentage points as progress in the country’s fight against malaria but warned that the improvement did not mean the disease had been eliminated.
He cited Kebbi State as an example of progress, noting that malaria prevalence in the state dropped from 49 per cent in 2021 to 18 per cent in 2025.
The minister also highlighted the need to improve the use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets, stating that among households that owned the nets, 72.3 per cent of children and 80.6 per cent of pregnant women slept under one.
According to him, the National Malaria Strategic Plan 2026–2030 is aligned with the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and will focus on directing interventions to areas with the highest malaria burden through its sub-national tailoring approach.
He explained that the strategy would use local epidemiological evidence to guide interventions and ensure resources reach communities most affected by the disease.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the National Population Commission, Dr Abuh Muhammed, said the survey reflected the importance of collaboration between the National Malaria Elimination Programme and the commission in gathering reliable data to guide malaria control efforts.
He reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to supporting evidence-based planning and called on policymakers and development partners to use the survey findings to determine where resources are most urgently needed.
Pate urged state governments to take responsibility for the findings in their respective states, align malaria control plans and budgets with identified needs, and ensure the timely release of funds.
He also called on development partners to align their financial and technical support with Nigeria’s malaria control priorities.
The minister commended the National Malaria Elimination Programme, the National Population Commission and other partners involved in the survey, reiterating the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening domestic funding, improving disease surveillance and coordinating efforts to reduce malaria cases and deaths across the country.
