Abuja, Nigeria – April 27, 2025 – Nigeria continues to bear a disproportionate burden of malaria worldwide, accounting for 31% of global malaria deaths and 27% of total cases, according to the World Malaria Report 2024. This alarming reality highlights a public health crisis that demands urgent and sustained action to save millions of lives.
Every year, approximately 55 million Nigerians contract malaria, with about 90,000 succumbing to the disease. Disturbingly, nearly 40% of all malaria deaths among children under five globally occur in Nigeria, underscoring the devastating impact on the country’s most vulnerable population.
The economic toll is equally staggering. Malaria cost Nigeria an estimated $1.6 billion (₦687 billion) in 2022 alone, with projections suggesting this figure could reach $2.8 billion (₦2 trillion) by 2030 if current trends continue unchecked.
At a recent World Malaria Day event in Abuja, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Adekunle Salako, expressed grave concern over these statistics. “Nigeria alone contributes to 27% of global malaria cases and 31% of malaria deaths worldwide,” he said, stressing the urgent need for intensified prevention and control measures.
The Nigerian government has launched several initiatives to combat malaria, including Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) targeting 30 million children under five across 21 states. Efforts are also underway to expand access to diagnostics and treatment nationwide, despite challenges posed by funding suspensions affecting some regions.
To ensure efficient delivery of malaria commodities, the government employs an integrated supply chain system coordinated by the National Product Supply Chain Management Programme. Additionally, pilot programs for Larval Source Management are active in six states, and a phased rollout of the malaria vaccine is underway in Kebbi and Bayelsa states, with plans to expand to 17 more states in 2025.
Civil society advocates, including Mr. Auwal Rafsanjani of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), warn that the high cost of malaria drugs continues to impede progress. “Affordable access to effective treatment is critical to reducing the malaria burden and preventing families from falling deeper into poverty,” he said.
The theme of World Malaria Day 2025, “Malaria Ends with Us: Reinvest, Reignite, Reimagine,” calls for collective responsibility. Dr. Salako urged all stakeholders – government, partners, businesses, communities, and individuals – to renew their commitment to ending malaria in Nigeria.
With nearly a third of the world’s malaria deaths occurring within its borders, Nigeria faces a critical crossroads. The health and future of millions depend on decisive, coordinated action to turn the tide against this preventable disease.