The federal government has developed a new, robust National Malaria Strategic Plan 2026-2030 in a proactive measure to reshape response to malaria, despite its prevalence decline from 42% in 2010 to 15% in 2025.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, stated this in his keynote address as part of activities marking the commemoration of 2026 World Malaria Day Wednesday in Abuja.
The minister said this underscores, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s continued commitment to improving the health and well-being of Nigerians by strengthening national public health responses, adding that eliminating malaria and related diseases remains firmly in the centre of the Renewed Hope Agenda, saying that it is not a slogan, it is a strategic priority.
He revealed that the National Malaria Strategic Plan 2026 to 2030, grounded in sub national tailoring so that interventions are designed to reflect the realities of different states and communities, adding that it aligned with the National Health Sector Strategic Blueprint (HSSB), the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp), and the WHO Global Technical Strategy (GTS) and aims to reduce malaria parasite prevalence and mortality by 50% from 2025 levels by 2030.
Dr. Salako stated that the ministry has long established the Advisory on Malaria Elimination in Nigeria (AMEN), bringing together a distinguished council of global experts to provide technical support, evidence-based guidance, and strategic direction for a more effective path towards a malaria-free Nigeria.
He stated that over 500 million Insecticides Treated Nets, have been distributed from 2015 till date, revealing that this year, with the support of partners, access would be expanded to 11 states, namely: Akwa Ibom, Kebbi, Borno, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Abia, the Federal Capital Territory, Kogi, Osun, Kwara, and Adamawa.
This intervention, he noted, remains one of the most effective ways to protect families, especially children and pregnant women, from malaria infection.