FG is committed to reducing malaria parasite prevalence and mortality by 50% by 2030

The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to reduce the prevalence and mortality of the malaria parasite by 50% by 2030.

The Assistant Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, stated this at a press conference and panel discussion commemorating the World Malaria Day 2026 in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said this year’s theme: “Challenging Malaria: Now We Can”, speaks of opportunity, but for Nigeria the message must be even stronger.

He said: “We must now act with urgency and determination, sustain our investments and strengthen our partnerships. And we must remain focused until malaria is no longer a threat to people’s health, dignity and prosperity.

He said Nigeria is treating the elimination of malaria as an urgent national priority and supports that commitment with concrete actions, strategic partnerships and renewed determination.

Salako said: “We tend to refer to malaria as ordinary malaria. But there is nothing ordinary about malaria, it is a disease that continues to claim children, endanger pregnant women, weaken families, reduce productivity and impose high costs on our health system and our economy.

“Malaria remains one of the greatest public health threats facing our country, and its burden continues to fall heaviest on the most vulnerable among us.

“According to the World Malaria Report 2025, Nigeria accounts for 24% of malaria cases globally and 31% of malaria deaths globally. These are not just statistics, they represent human lives, bereaved families, disrupted futures and lost national potential.”

The minister noted that Nigeria has made significant progress and the country’s statistics, Malaria Indicator Survey 2025, show that its prevalence has dropped to 15%, down from 42% in 2010, when the first survey was conducted.

Dr Salako said Nigeria continued to roll out the malaria vaccine. which started in December 2024 in Kebbi and Bayelsa states and has now been extended to Bauchi and Ondo states, reaching children aged 5 to 23 months with over 700,000 children benefiting from preventive malaria intervention.

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