Malaria Elimination Agency Bill passes Senate, paving the way for a new body to coordinate efforts to prevent and eradicate malaria in Nigeria

The Senate on Wednesday passed the Malaria Elimination Agency Bill, a proposed legislation seeking to establish a National Agency for Malaria Elimination to coordinate efforts aimed at preventing, controlling and ultimately eradicating malaria across Nigeria.

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The bill, sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko, scaled third reading after lawmakers considered and adopted the report of the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary), chaired by Senator Ipalibo Banigo.

Presenting the committee’s report on behalf of Banigo, Senator Sampson Ekong said the proposed agency would serve as the central coordinating body for national malaria elimination initiatives.

According to the Senate, the agency is designed to transform Nigeria’s approach to combating malaria by moving beyond treatment-focused interventions and prioritising prevention, control and long-term eradication strategies.

“The agency, when established, will help shift the country’s approach from curative measures to prevention and eventual elimination of malaria,” the Senate stated.

The proposed agency would operate through zonal and state offices nationwide and implement a strategic framework supported by legislation, scientific research and accountability mechanisms.

Speaking after the bill’s passage, Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the legislation as a significant milestone in the country’s public health campaign against one of its most persistent diseases.

“This is a landmark bill in the war against malaria, which remains the most common ailment in this part of the world,” Akpabio said.

Addressing journalists shortly after the Senate’s decision, Nwoko expressed confidence that eliminating malaria in Nigeria was an achievable objective.

The lawmaker said extensive research informed the drafting of the Malaria Elimination Agency Bill, including international fact-finding efforts undertaken with members of his legislative team.

“In the course of my research on the elimination of malaria, I went to Antarctica with some of my legislative aides, after which I came up with this bill. It was passed for second reading in May last year and has now been passed for third reading by the Senate today,” Nwoko said.

“Eradicating or eliminating malaria is achievable in Nigeria through a special agency established for that purpose,” he added.

Nwoko explained that the proposed agency would adopt a comprehensive approach to tackling the disease through environmental management, vector control programmes and scientific innovation.

“The agency, when established, shall through effective waste management, fumigation and research on vaccines, see to the elimination of malaria in Nigeria,” the senator said.

A notable aspect of the proposal is its emphasis on research and prevention, reflecting a broader effort to address the root causes of malaria transmission rather than focusing primarily on treatment after infection.

If the bill receives concurrence from the House of Representatives and is subsequently signed into law by the President, the agency would be responsible for coordinating nationwide malaria elimination programmes and advancing Nigeria’s ambition of becoming one of Africa’s leading malaria-free nations.

Malaria remains one of the country’s most significant public health challenges, accounting for a substantial proportion of hospital visits, child mortality cases and economic losses linked to preventable disease outbreaks.

Also read: Nigeria Records 24.47 Million Malaria Cases in 2025

The passage of the Malaria Elimination Agency Bill marks a major legislative step towards a more coordinated and proactive national response to the disease.