As the world marks World Malaria Day, the global community is intensifying efforts to eliminate malaria, a disease that caused approximately 282 million cases and 610,000 deaths in 2024. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports significant progress since 2000, with about 2.3 billion cases and 14 million deaths averted. Forty-seven countries have been certified malaria-free, including two in 2024 and three in 2025.
Between 2000 and 2024, the number of malaria-endemic countries dropped sharply from 108 to 80. Over the same period, countries reporting fewer than 10,000 cases increased from 27 to 46. In 2024, 37 countries reported fewer than 1,000 cases. Currently, 25 countries, including Nigeria, are rolling out malaria vaccines to protect 10 million children annually.
Despite these achievements, malaria remains a severe global health challenge. The WHO warns that hard-won gains are threatened by drug and insecticide resistance, extreme weather events, and declining investment, leaving communities exposed and vulnerable.
Nigeria's Burden
In Nigeria, malaria is a critical public health crisis, with 97 percent of the population at risk of infection. According to the 2025 World Malaria Report, Nigeria bears the highest global burden, accounting for 24.3 percent of estimated malaria cases and 30.3 percent of estimated deaths. The country represented 54.6 percent of malaria cases in West Africa in 2024, attributed to its large population, poor sanitation, and vegetation that favors mosquito breeding.
Malaria Consortium estimates that Nigeria loses about $1.1 billion annually to malaria treatment, prevention, and lost productivity. The Global Fund has invested $365 million in Nigeria's malaria response under the GC7 grant covering 2024–2026. However, the U.S. President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) has scaled down support from 11 states to seven.
Data from the Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey (NMIS) 2025 shows a significant reduction in national malaria prevalence from 42 percent in 2010 to 15 percent in 2025. Dr. Nnenna Ogbulafor, National Coordinator of the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), stated that this means among 100 children aged 6–59 months, about 15 have malaria parasites. She described this as a giant stride but noted that pregnant women and children under five remain at risk.
New Strategic Plan
Nigeria has developed a new National Malaria Strategic Implementation Plan (2026–2030) focusing on high-impact interventions to accelerate elimination within four years. The plan aims to reduce parasite prevalence by 50 percent and malaria deaths by 50 percent nationally. Sub-nationally, it targets very low prevalence in two low-transmission states and a 30 percent reduction in moderate-transmission states. The final cost is not yet determined but is expected to run into trillions of naira.
According to WHO classification, Nigeria no longer has high-transmission states. Lagos and Plateau are classified as low-transmission (2.6 percent prevalence), while the remaining 34 states and the FCT are moderate-transmission. Dr. Ogbulafor emphasized that approved anti-malarial drugs remain effective, with efficacy above 90–95 percent. Therapeutic drug efficacy studies continue to monitor these molecules.
The government is scaling up malaria vaccination to more states, adding Bauchi and Ondo to the initial pilot states of Kebbi and Bayelsa.
Insecticide Resistance
Nigeria has recorded pyrethroid resistance, a challenge present since the 1950s. Since 2012, coordinated insecticide resistance surveillance has been conducted in 27 states. This data informs decisions on net types. New generation nets, such as dual AI and PBO nets, have been deployed. The country has also flagged off larval source management (LSM) as a complementary vector control intervention, approved by the National Council on Health in 2025. LSM is being piloted in five states.
Persistent Challenges
Tajudeen Ibrahim, Executive Director of the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) of the Global Fund, noted progress but highlighted a detection gap of nearly 40 percent. Poverty, undernutrition, overcrowding, and unemployment exacerbate the burden. He called for sustained investment, stronger health systems, and collaboration among government, private sector, and communities. The malaria vaccine rollout is phased, starting with Kebbi, Bayelsa, and now Bauchi.
Ibrahim expressed concern over pyrethroid resistance in 48 of 53 reporting countries and the spread of Anopheles stephensi across Africa. He emphasized enhanced surveillance, improved vector control, and targeted urban interventions. The Rethinking Malaria concept, including new tools like vaccines and local manufacturing, is yielding results.
Community and Technology
Mr. Ayo Ipinmoye, National Coordinator of ACOMIN, identified resourcing as a major challenge. He called for investment from government, private sector, and philanthropists. He stressed community ownership, noting that some people misuse insecticide-treated nets for fishing or clothing, sabotaging interventions. He urged communities to sleep under nets, take medications on time, get tested before treatment, and keep environments free of stagnant water.
Ipinmoye also underscored technology's importance, noting that most malaria resources are imported, causing capital flight. He called on wealthy citizens to invest in local production of nets, medicines, and equipment.
Research and Innovation
Professor Martin Madu Meremikwu, a pediatrician and clinical epidemiologist at the University of Calabar, highlighted the need for new innovations and scientific research. He noted that drug resistance, often due to incorrect use, remains a major challenge. However, drug efficacy studies in Nigeria show no resistance to ACTs, unlike in East and Southern Africa.
Associate Professor Olatomide Fadare of Obafemi Awolowo University advocated for synthetic drug development to reduce reliance on imported active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). His research group uses computational techniques for rational drug design, targeting key metabolic processes in the malaria parasite. He noted that plant-derived compounds often face stability and pharmacokinetic issues, making synthetic derivatives more reliable. Fadare called for stronger academia-industry collaboration to boost local API production and reduce costs.
