The Nigerian Senate has passed for third reading a landmark bill seeking the establishment of the National Agency for Malaria Elimination, a move aimed at strengthening the country’s fight against one of its deadliest public health challenges and accelerating efforts toward malaria eradication.
The proposed legislation, sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko, scaled its final legislative hurdle after lawmakers considered and adopted the report of the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary), chaired by Ipalibo Harry Banigo.
According to the committee’s report, the agency will serve as the central coordinating body for national malaria elimination programmes, shifting Nigeria’s response from a largely treatment-based approach to a comprehensive strategy focused on prevention, control and eventual eradication. The proposed institution is also expected to establish zonal and state offices across the country to ensure effective implementation of malaria elimination programmes through a framework driven by science, accountability and legal backing.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, described the bill as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s public health journey, noting that malaria remains one of the most prevalent diseases affecting millions of Nigerians annually.
Speaking with Senate correspondents shortly after the bill was passed, Nwoko expressed optimism that eliminating malaria in Nigeria is both realistic and achievable. He said the proposed agency would champion innovative interventions, including improved waste management systems, environmental fumigation programmes and investment in vaccine research to tackle the disease at its roots.
The lawmaker further argued that the establishment of the agency could place Nigeria on a path to becoming the first malaria-free nation in Africa, a goal he believes is attainable with sustained commitment and coordinated action.
The Senate’s action comes amid renewed global efforts to combat malaria and follows recent developments announced by the World Health Organization. Last month, the WHO granted prequalification approval to artemether-lumefantrine, the first malaria treatment specifically formulated for newborns and infants.
The breakthrough drug is designed to address the unique treatment needs of the youngest victims of the mosquito-borne disease. Before the approval, infants were commonly treated with formulations intended for older children, increasing the risk of dosage errors, adverse side effects and toxicity.
Welcoming the advancement, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “For centuries, malaria has stolen children from their parents, and health, wealth and hope from communities.”
He added: “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.”
Expressing optimism about the future of malaria control, Ghebreyesus said: “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.”
Despite progress in the global fight against malaria, the disease remains a major health burden, particularly in Africa. According to WHO estimates, there were approximately 282 million malaria cases and 610,000 deaths across 80 countries in 2024. Africa accounted for 95 per cent of those infections and fatalities, while children under the age of five represented nearly three-quarters of all malaria-related deaths.
The WHO has also highlighted concerns that nearly 70 per cent of countries worldwide still lack sufficiently robust regulatory systems to effectively oversee medicines, vaccines, diagnostic tools and other medical products.
