ABUJA — The Federal Government today unveiled the National Malaria Strategic Plan 2026‑2030, which aims to cut malaria prevalence and mortality in Nigeria by 50 percent by 2030. The plan was announced by Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, at a press conference marking World Malaria Day 2026.
The new strategy is built on sub‑national tailoring of interventions and aligns with the Sector‑Wide Approach (SWAp) and the World Health Organization’s Global Technical Strategy for Malaria. Salako warned that malaria remains a serious public‑health and economic threat, stating, “There is nothing ordinary about malaria. It continues to claim the lives of children, endanger pregnant women, and weaken families and productivity.”
According to the 2025 World Malaria Report, Nigeria accounts for roughly 24 percent of global malaria cases and more than 30 percent of worldwide malaria deaths. The minister highlighted that, despite this burden, the country has recorded measurable progress: national prevalence fell from 42 percent in 2010 to about 15 percent in 2025. No state is currently classified as high‑transmission; the majority fall into low or moderate transmission zones.
Key components of the 2026‑2030 plan include scaling up proven tools such as insecticide‑treated nets (ITNs), seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC), and malaria vaccination. Since 2015, more than 500 million ITNs have been distributed, and the 2026 rollout will extend distribution to 11 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The Ministry also aims to reach approximately 29 million children under five with SMC across 21 states, and over 700 000 children have already received the malaria vaccine in selected pilot states.
To diversify control measures, Nigeria is piloting larval source management in six states. Salako emphasized that malaria elimination remains a priority of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. Strengthening health systems, improving surveillance, and enhancing data‑driven decision‑making are integral to the strategy.
The minister called for broader collaboration with development partners, the private sector, and the media, stressing that “malaria elimination cannot be achieved by the government alone. It requires a whole‑of‑society approach.” He urged Nigerians to use treated nets, keep their environments clean, and seek prompt diagnosis and treatment.
The government’s commitment to ending malaria reflects the high cost of inaction for the nation’s health and economic development. (NAN)
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