The Senate has for the third time passed the National Agency for Malaria Elimination Bill sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko (Delta North). The legislation seeks to shift Nigeria’s approach from managing malaria cases to eliminating the disease entirely through a dedicated, data-driven national agency. Our Managing Editor, Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka, reports on the bill’s provisions, stakeholder backing, and what it could mean for Africa’s biggest malaria burden.
Nigeria may be on the verge of a major breakthrough in its decades-long fight against malaria after the Senate passed the National Agency for Malaria Elimination Bill for a third time on Wednesday. The move signals a shift in policy from treatment to elimination.
Sponsor of the bill, Senator Ned Nwoko representing Delta North, said the Senate’s approval provides Nigeria a realistic pathway to end one of its most devastating public health challenges. He described the passage as a milestone that could transform the country’s response to malaria.
For years, Nigeria’s strategy has focused largely on treating infections and managing outbreaks. The new bill proposes a coordinated national campaign aimed at elimination, modeled after countries that have successfully wiped out malaria through sustained political commitment.
Speaking after the bill scaled Third Reading, Nwoko expressed optimism that Nigeria can replicate those successes. “Malaria has been eliminated in several countries around the world. It is achievable. Nigeria can end malaria, and Africa can end malaria. What is needed is focus, coordination and political will,” he said.
The legislation is titled _A Bill for an Act to Establish the National Agency for Malaria Elimination and for Related Matters, 2025 (SB.172)_. Its core objective is to create a dedicated institution to drive a nationwide, data-driven campaign against the disease.
The bill was first introduced in May 2025 before undergoing committee scrutiny and extensive stakeholder consultations. That process included health experts, government agencies, development partners, and civil society organizations.
Under the proposed framework, the agency would coordinate malaria prevention, surveillance, environmental management, research, public awareness, and elimination programs across all 36 states and the FCT. It would also establish zonal and state offices to decentralize operations.
Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary), which reviewed the bill, reported overwhelming support during public hearings. Stakeholders argued that Nigeria needs a specialized institution focused exclusively on elimination, rather than the current emphasis on treatment and management.
Lawmakers adopted the term “elimination” instead of “eradication” to align with international public health standards and global best practices. The distinction reflects a phased, achievable goal rather than an immediate total wipeout.
The committee clarified that the agency would not replace existing malaria-control initiatives. Instead, it would complement and coordinate them while providing stronger institutional leadership and accountability for national efforts.
A key mandate of the proposed agency is developing a national strategic framework to drive interventions across all tiers of government. That includes aligning federal, state, and local policies under one coordinated plan.
Nwoko, who has championed similar proposals long before his election to the Senate, stressed that malaria still claims thousands of lives annually in Africa, especially among children and vulnerable groups. Yet he noted the disease is both preventable and treatable.
He argued that sustained investment in environmental sanitation, waste management, fumigation, scientific research, and innovation would significantly reduce mosquito breeding and lower malaria-related deaths. “There is no amount of money spent to save lives that is too much,” he said. “Families are still losing loved ones to malaria every day. We cannot continue to treat this as normal.”
With Senate approval secured, the bill now heads to the House of Representatives for concurrence. If both chambers agree, it will be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent to become law.
If enacted, the National Agency for Malaria Elimination would rank among Nigeria’s most ambitious public health reforms in recent years. It could also strengthen the country’s leadership role in Africa’s campaign against the disease.
For Nwoko, the goal is clear and urgent: “This is a fight we can win. Nigeria can end malaria, and we must be determined to do so.” The next phase will test whether political will can translate the bill into measurable impact on the ground.
