The Senate has passed for third reading a bill seeking the establishment of the National Agency for Malaria Elimination, a proposed body designed to coordinate efforts aimed at preventing, controlling, and ultimately eradicating malaria in Nigeria.
The legislation, sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North, scaled through the Senate after lawmakers considered and adopted a report presented by the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary). The committee is chaired by Senator Ipalibo Harry Banigo, who represents Rivers West.
According to the committee, the proposed agency will oversee and coordinate malaria elimination programmes across the country, with a renewed focus on prevention and eradication rather than treatment alone. The initiative is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s long-term response to one of its most persistent public health challenges.
As part of its mandate, the agency will establish zonal and state offices to ensure effective implementation of its programmes nationwide. The framework guiding its operations is expected to be built on legal backing, scientific evidence, and accountability mechanisms.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, described the bill as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s fight against malaria. He noted that the disease continues to rank among the country’s most widespread health concerns, making stronger institutional intervention necessary.
Following the passage of the bill, Senator Nwoko expressed optimism about the prospects of eliminating malaria in Nigeria. He stated that the goal is both practical and achievable if the right structures and strategies are put in place.
The lawmaker explained that the proposed agency would implement measures including improved waste management systems, environmental fumigation, and support for vaccine research. He added that successful implementation could place Nigeria on the path to becoming the first malaria-free country in Africa.
Senate Initiative Aligns with WHO’s New Malaria Treatment Approval
The Senate’s action comes amid broader global efforts to combat malaria. Last month, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced that it had granted prequalification approval to a malaria treatment specifically designed for newborns and infants, marking a first in the fight against the disease.
The treatment, Artemether-lumefantrine, is the first antimalarial formulation developed specifically for the youngest victims of mosquito-borne malaria. WHO said the prequalification confirms that the medicine meets internationally accepted standards for quality, safety, and efficacy.
Before the approval, infants were commonly treated with antimalarial formulations intended for older children, a practice that carried increased risks of dosage errors, side effects, and toxicity.
Commenting on the development, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said:
“For centuries, malaria has stolen children from their parents, and health, wealth and hope from communities.
“But today, the story is changing. New vaccines, diagnostic tests, next-generation mosquito nets and effective medicines, including those adapted for the youngest, are helping to turn the tide.
“Ending malaria in our lifetime is no longer a dream — it is a real possibility, but only with sustained political and financial commitment. Now we can. Now we must.”
According to WHO estimates, malaria accounted for approximately 282 million cases and 610,000 deaths across 80 countries in 2024. Africa remains the most affected region, responsible for 95 per cent of both cases and deaths globally, while children under the age of five account for nearly three-quarters of malaria-related fatalities.
Despite recent advances, WHO warned that progress against malaria continues to face major obstacles, including growing drug resistance, insecticide resistance, diagnostic failures, and significant reductions in foreign aid funding.
The UN health agency also noted that nearly 70 per cent of countries around the world still lack sufficiently robust regulatory systems to effectively oversee medicines, vaccines, diagnostic tests, and medical devices.
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