The Nigerian Senate has advanced a proposed law aimed at establishing a National Agency for Malaria Eradication, as the bill passed its second reading during Thursday’s plenary session. This marks a significant step toward institutionalising the country’s fight against malaria and underlines Nigeria’s commitment to ending one of its most persistent public health crises.
The bill was presented by its sponsor, Senator Ned Nwoko (APC–Delta), who opened the debate by describing malaria as a national emergency that demands an urgent and coordinated response. According to the senator, malaria is not simply a health concern but a broader developmental threat that affects maternal health, depletes economic productivity, and stalls national progress.
He highlighted the heavy toll malaria takes on pregnant women, attributing many maternal deaths to complications such as severe anaemia, miscarriages, stillbirths, and infant mortality. The disease, he said, disproportionately impacts Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations.
On the economic front, Senator Nwoko lamented the substantial loss in productive hours due to malaria-related illnesses, arguing that current efforts to combat the disease, though commendable, are fragmented and insufficient without a centralised approach. The proposed agency, he said, would operate autonomously, equipped with a clear and vigorous mandate to drive national malaria policies, foster inter-agency collaboration, and ensure focused execution.
The senator further explained that the agency would not only manage and deploy resources transparently but also promote vaccine research and support scientific innovation, including genetic interventions being explored worldwide.
“Nigeria cannot continue to lead the world in malaria deaths; our vectors are evolving; our parasites are adapting, so must our institutional response. A fragmented structure cannot confront a mutating threat! We need a unified, science-driven and legislatively backed institution, with the singular mandate of ending malaria in Nigeria,” Nwoko declared.
He concluded his remarks by urging his fellow lawmakers to endorse the bill with urgency, noting that this legislative action could become a defining legacy.
“Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, the time has come for this nation to demonstrate the political will, urgency, and resolve that malaria eradication demands. Let this bill be our collective legacy, a line in the sand, marking the point where Nigeria stands up, not just to treat malaria, but to end it,” he said.
Senator Nwoko also noted that his personal efforts, through his foundation, have included mobilising resources, supporting research, and hosting strategic engagements such as a high-level WHO meeting in his constituency.
“I urge you, Mr. President and my colleagues, to support the speedy passage of this bill as a critical step towards saving lives, strengthening our public health infrastructure, and securing the current future of our nation,” he added.
Other lawmakers expressed strong support for the initiative. Senator Victor Umeh (LP–Anambra) praised the proposal, noting the high burden malaria continues to place on Nigerians. He called for effective and sustained strategies to tackle the disease.
In his own contribution, Senator Ede Dafinone (APC–Delta) echoed the bill’s importance, stating that malaria significantly hampers economic growth and disproportionately affects the youth.
Presiding over the session, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin (APC–Kano) referred the bill to the Committee on Health for further scrutiny and legislative refinement, instructing the committee to submit its findings within four weeks.