Nigeria targets 50% cut in malaria deaths, prevalence by 2030 – Pate

Nigeria has set a target to reduce malaria prevalence and mortality by 50 per cent by 2030, as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to eliminate the disease that accounts for nearly a quarter of global malaria cases. Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this in Abuja while declaring open “The […]

Nigeria has set a target to reduce malaria prevalence and mortality by 50 per cent by 2030, as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to eliminate the disease that accounts for nearly a quarter of global malaria cases.

Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this in Abuja while declaring open “The Science of Defeating Malaria Conference”, a leadership development course organised by the ministry in partnership with the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP).

Pate said the target was contained in Nigeria’s National Malaria Strategic Plan (2026–2030), which is aligned with the World Health Organisation’s Global Technical Strategy and the country’s health sector renewal agenda.

He said despite progress recorded in recent years, Nigeria still bears a disproportionate share of the global malaria burden, accounting for about 24 per cent of cases and nearly 30 per cent of malaria-related deaths worldwide.

“We’ve developed a robust National Malaria Strategic Plan for the years 2026 to 2030. The ambition is to reduce malaria parasite prevalence and malaria mortality by 50 per cent by 2030,” he said.

The minister, however, noted that recent data showed encouraging progress in the fight against the disease.

According to him, findings from the 2025 Malaria Indicator Survey revealed that malaria parasite prevalence had dropped to about 15 per cent from 22 per cent recorded in 2021, while the figure stood at 42 per cent in 2010.

He added that 27 states are now classified as moderate-transmission areas, while nine states and the Federal Capital Territory fall within the low-transmission category.

“Importantly, no state in the country is currently in the high-transmission category,” he said.

Pate attributed the improvement to sustained investments, innovation, community engagement and the contributions of health workers, researchers, development partners, civil society organisations and state governments.

He warned against complacency, saying the next phase of malaria control would require more precise, data-driven and accountable interventions.

Pate also called for stronger regional collaboration across West Africa, advocating the development of an ECOWAS Regional Malaria Elimination Framework to strengthen cross-border surveillance, harmonise data systems and improve accountability.

In her remarks, NMEP National Coordinator, Dr Nnenna Ogbulafor, said the intensive leadership development programme designed for global public health professionals working at the intersection of malaria policy, programme management, research, regulation, and implementation would go a long way in the global efforts aimed at malaria elimination.

Dr Ogbulafor who is an alumnus of the course, said the training she received during her cohort had impacted greatly on her leadership capacity in driving Nigeria’s malaria elimination efforts.

Dr Evelyn Korkor Ansah of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), Ghana, in her goodwill message expressed the assurance that the course will afford the participants the opportunity to sharpen their leadership skills in driving malaria elimination efforts in their respective countries.