The Federal Government has announced plans to reduce malaria cases and deaths linked to the disease by 50 per cent by 2030, as a new survey reveals gaps in prevention, testing and treatment across Nigeria.
The target was announced following the release of the 2025 Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey, which showed a decline in malaria prevalence among young children but raised concerns over the use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets and access to proper diagnosis.
According to the survey, malaria prevalence among children aged six to 59 months dropped from 22 per cent in 2021 to 15 per cent in 2025.
Despite the improvement, only 45 per cent of children under five slept under an insecticide-treated mosquito net on the night before the survey was conducted.
The report also found that just 18 per cent of children under five who had experienced fever within the two weeks preceding the survey underwent a blood test to determine whether they had malaria.
The findings were presented in Abuja during the joint launch of the 2025 Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey report and the National Malaria Strategic Plan for 2026 to 2030.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, represented by the ministry's Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom, said the reduction in malaria prevalence showed that efforts to control the disease were yielding results.
However, he noted that the country still faced major challenges in its efforts to eliminate malaria and protect vulnerable populations.
Pate attributed the decline in malaria prevalence to ongoing government interventions and efforts to improve healthcare delivery under President Bola Tinubu's administration.
He cited Kebbi State as an example of the progress recorded, noting that malaria prevalence in the state fell from 49 per cent in 2021 to 18 per cent in 2025.
The minister stressed the need for sustained action to prevent further infections and ensure that Nigerians, particularly those in high-risk communities, could access malaria prevention, testing and treatment services.
He also called for better use of available resources to reach communities where malaria remains widespread.
The National Malaria Strategic Plan for 2026 to 2030 is designed to build on the progress already recorded while addressing existing weaknesses in prevention, diagnosis, treatment, disease monitoring and funding.
The plan seeks to improve domestic funding for malaria control, strengthen surveillance systems, expand preventive measures and ensure that underserved communities receive the necessary healthcare services.
The survey also revealed wide differences in malaria prevalence across states. Among children aged six to 59 months, prevalence ranged from about two per cent in Lagos State to 31 per cent in Ebonyi State.
The government said the findings would guide the identification of communities with high malaria burdens and help authorities direct interventions and funding to areas with the greatest needs.
Under the new strategic plan, Nigeria aims to ensure that at least 80 per cent of the population at risk has access to and makes use of malaria prevention measures by 2030.
The country also plans to achieve at least 90 per cent effective coverage of malaria diagnosis and appropriate treatment among target populations at risk.
In addition, the government intends to improve malaria surveillance performance from its current baseline of 47 per cent to 70 per cent.
The plan further seeks to ensure that domestic sources provide at least 60 per cent of the resources required to implement malaria control programmes by 2030.
Meanwhile, the survey identified gaps in the prevention of malaria among pregnant women, who face an increased risk of complications from the disease.
It found that only 54 per cent of pregnant women aged 15 to 49 slept under insecticide-treated mosquito nets on the night before the survey.
The report also showed that 62 per cent of women who had given birth within the two years preceding the survey received at least one dose of sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine, a medicine used to prevent malaria during pregnancy.
However, only 33 per cent received at least three doses, indicating that many women were not receiving the recommended level of preventive treatment.
The survey further revealed that 59 per cent of children under five who experienced fever in the two weeks before the survey had medical advice sought or received treatment.
Despite this, only 18 per cent underwent blood tests to establish whether malaria was responsible for their symptoms.
The findings point to the need for improved access to healthcare services and greater awareness of the importance of testing before treatment.
The National Malaria Strategic Plan is also aligned with the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative. It adopts an approach that seeks to improve cooperation among federal and state governments, development partners and other stakeholders involved in the country's healthcare system.
Pate urged state governments to take responsibility for the findings from their respective states and use the data to develop malaria control programmes that address local needs.
He also called on state authorities to ensure that their budgets reflect identified priorities and that funds allocated to malaria interventions are released on time.
Development partners were equally encouraged to align their financial contributions and technical assistance with the country's malaria control priorities.
The Director-General of the National Population Commission, Abuh Muhammed, said the survey demonstrated the importance of cooperation between the commission and the National Malaria Elimination Programme in providing reliable information for public health planning.
He reaffirmed the commission's commitment to supporting evidence-based policymaking and urged government officials and development partners to use the survey results to direct resources to communities where they are most needed.
The scale of Nigeria's malaria burden remains a major concern despite the recent decline in prevalence among children.
The World Health Organisation's World Malaria Report 2025 estimated that 282 million malaria cases and 610,000 deaths were recorded globally in 2024.
Nigeria accounted for approximately 24.3 per cent of malaria cases worldwide and 30.3 per cent of malaria-related deaths during the period, according to the report.
The Federal Government said the National Malaria Strategic Plan would provide clear targets for measuring progress, strengthen accountability and improve coordination among stakeholders working to control the disease.
The government maintained that achieving the 2030 target would require sustained investment, improved access to preventive measures, early diagnosis, effective treatment and stronger cooperation between government institutions and their partners.
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