The Senate has passed for third reading a bill seeking the establishment of a Malaria Elimination Agency, a landmark move aimed at intensifying Nigeria’s fight against malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the bill scaled its third reading, Senator Ned Nwoko expressed optimism that Nigeria could significantly reduce, and eventually eliminate, malaria through a coordinated and focused national strategy.
According to the lawmaker, representing Delta North senatorial district, the proposed agency would be specifically tasked with organizing and driving the country’s anti-malaria campaign through effective planning, policy implementation, and sustained execution.
“We shall have an agency that is specifically charged with the duty of making sure that the fight against malaria is organized, focused, and achieved through proper planning and execution of whatever policies that we want to put in place,” he said.
Senator Nwoko described malaria as one of the country’s deadliest health challenges, lamenting the loss of lives to a disease that he believes can be defeated with political will and proper coordination.
He argued that many Nigerians have come to regard malaria as an unavoidable part of everyday life, a mindset he said has contributed to the lack of urgency in addressing the disease.
“The reason why we Africans, or in Nigeria, don’t seem to bother so much about finding a solution is because we think malaria has become part of us. There is something we can do about it,” he stated.
Drawing lessons from international experiences, the senator recalled a discussion with a representative from Italy who explained how the country tackled malaria through coordinated waste management and immunization efforts.
According to him, countries that once struggled with malaria have successfully overcome the scourge through deliberate government interventions, and Nigeria can achieve similar results within five to ten years if the proposed agency is given the necessary support and resources.
Senator Nwoko also referenced the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that collective action and commitment enabled governments around the world to overcome what initially appeared to be an insurmountable challenge.
The lawmaker disclosed that malaria affects millions of Nigerians annually, including members of his own family, but stressed that many poorer households are unable to access timely treatment and often suffer fatal consequences.
“Some families don’t have the means to treat malaria immediately, and they lose their lives needlessly,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to remain hopeful and support efforts aimed at eliminating malaria, assuring them that practical solutions were on the horizon.
The passage of the bill marks a significant milestone in the legislative effort to establish a dedicated institution focused solely on mosquito eradication and malaria control. If eventually signed into law, the agency is expected to coordinate nationwide interventions, public health campaigns, environmental sanitation initiatives, and other measures aimed at reducing the burden of malaria across the country.
Abuja Times reports that the Senate earlier received and considered the reports of the committee on health on the Malaria Elimination Agency Bill, 2026.