By Desire Uzochukwu
The Federal Government has set a target to reduce malaria prevalence and malaria-attributable deaths by 50 per cent by 2030, following a reported decline in malaria parasite prevalence among Nigerian children aged six to 59 months from 22 per cent in 2021 to 15.2 per cent in 2025.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, announced the target at the launch of the 2025 Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey (NMIS) Report and the National Malaria Strategic Plan 2026–2030 in Abuja on Thursday.
Pate, represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom S., mni, said the 6.8 percentage-point decline showed progress in Nigeria’s malaria response but stressed that sustained action was needed to achieve further reductions.
The minister said the Federal Government would focus on evidence-based interventions, stronger surveillance, improved domestic financing and coordinated implementation across the states.
He cited Kebbi State, where malaria prevalence reportedly declined from 49 per cent in 2021 to 18 per cent in 2025, as an example of progress recorded during the period.
However, he warned that the national improvement should not lead to complacency, given the continued burden of malaria and the need to protect vulnerable populations.
Survey highlights bed-net use
The minister said the survey showed that 72.3 per cent of children and 80.6 per cent of pregnant women in households owning insecticide-treated nets slept under one.
He stressed the importance of strengthening public awareness and encouraging consistent use of insecticide-treated nets as part of broader malaria prevention efforts.
States to receive targeted interventions
Pate said the National Malaria Strategic Plan 2026–2030 was aligned with the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and would be implemented through the Sector-Wide Approach.
The strategy operates under the principle of “One Plan, One Budget, One Report, One Conversation,” with a sub-national tailoring approach designed to direct interventions according to the malaria burden in individual states and communities.
He called on state governments to take ownership of their survey results, align their budgets with identified needs and ensure timely release of funds for malaria control programmes.
Development partners were also urged to coordinate their investments and technical assistance with national priorities.
NPC stresses importance of evidence
The Director-General of the National Population Commission, Dr Abuh Muhammed, said the survey reflected the value of cooperation between the commission and the National Malaria Elimination Programme.
He explained that the partnership brought together technical expertise in malaria control, survey infrastructure and field operations to generate information for public health planning.
Muhammed urged policymakers and development partners to use the findings to identify priority areas and allocate resources according to demonstrated needs.
The Federal Government said it would continue to strengthen domestic funding, surveillance and coordination to reduce malaria illness and deaths nationwide.
Achieving the 2030 target will depend on sustained implementation of the new strategic plan, consistent use of preventive measures, access to timely diagnosis and treatment, and effective cooperation among federal and state governments and development partners.
