The Federal Government has unveiled an ambitious plan to cut malaria prevalence and mortality by 50 percent by the year 2030 as part of renewed efforts to eliminate one of the country’s most persistent public health challenges.
Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, announced the target in Abuja while declaring open the Science of Defeating Malaria Conference, a leadership development programme organized by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in collaboration with the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP).
According to the minister, the goal is embedded in Nigeria’s National Malaria Strategic Plan for 2026 to 2030, which aligns with the World Health Organization Global Technical Strategy on Malaria and the country’s broader health sector reform agenda.
Despite years of intervention, Nigeria remains the country most affected by malaria globally, accounting for approximately 24 percent of all malaria cases and nearly 30 percent of malaria-related deaths worldwide. The disease continues to place enormous pressure on the healthcare system, particularly among children under five and pregnant women, who remain the most vulnerable groups.
However, recent data indicate significant progress. Findings from the 2025 Malaria Indicator Survey show that malaria parasite prevalence has declined to about 15 percent, compared to 22 percent in 2021 and 42 percent in 2010. Health authorities say the steady reduction reflects the impact of sustained investments in prevention, treatment, surveillance, and community-based interventions.
Professor Pate noted that 27 states are now classified as moderate-transmission areas, while nine states and the Federal Capital Territory have moved into the low-transmission category. He emphasized that no state currently falls within the high-transmission category, describing the development as a major milestone in Nigeria’s fight against malaria.
The minister credited the progress to the collective efforts of healthcare workers, researchers, development partners, civil society organizations, community leaders, and state governments. He added that increased distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets, expanded access to rapid diagnostic testing, improved treatment coverage, and stronger public awareness campaigns have contributed to the gains recorded so far.
Nevertheless, he cautioned against complacency, stressing that achieving the 2030 target will require more targeted and data-driven interventions. He called for improved accountability, stronger monitoring systems, and greater use of technology to identify and respond to malaria hotspots.
Professor Pate also advocated enhanced regional cooperation across West Africa, proposing the establishment of an ECOWAS Regional Malaria Elimination Framework. Such a framework, he said, would strengthen cross-border disease surveillance, improve data sharing among member states, and coordinate efforts to tackle malaria transmission across national boundaries.
Speaking at the event, NMEP National Coordinator, Nnenna Ogbulafor, highlighted the importance of leadership development in achieving malaria elimination goals. She explained that the conference brings together public health professionals, researchers, policymakers, programme managers, and regulators from different countries to strengthen their capacity to lead malaria control initiatives.
Dr. Ogbulafor, herself a graduate of the programme, said the training had significantly enhanced her leadership skills and contributed to Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to reduce the burden of malaria.
Also speaking, Evelyn Korkor Ansah of the University of Health and Allied Sciences in Ghana expressed confidence that the course would equip participants with the knowledge and leadership tools needed to accelerate malaria elimination efforts in their respective countries.
Health experts at the conference agreed that while progress has been encouraging, sustained political commitment, increased domestic funding, innovation, and community participation will be critical if Nigeria is to achieve its goal of halving malaria infections and deaths by 2030 and ultimately eliminating the disease as a public health threat.
