Data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) show that Nigeria recorded an estimated 68 million malaria cases and 194,000 deaths in 2021, accounting for about 27 per cent of the global malaria burden. Despite decades of control programmes, the disease remains deeply entrenched, particularly in rural areas and informal settlements.
Beyond its health impact, malaria imposes severe economic pressure on families. Treating a single case of uncomplicated malaria in a public hospital costs an average of N17,000 for consultation, diagnosis, and medication. For complicated cases, expenses can triple, placing treatment far beyond the reach of many Nigerians who rely on out-of-pocket payments for healthcare.
Health experts say these financial barriers contribute significantly to preventable deaths, especially among children. Former President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Prof. Francis Faduyile, noted that malaria mortality persists largely because families lack adequate information, timely access to care, and the economic means to seek treatment.
“To prevent deaths from malaria, three things must work together: education, accessibility, and affordability,” he said. He also stressed the importance of functional primary healthcare centres, universal health coverage, and improved environmental sanitation. According to him, poor waste management and stagnant water create breeding grounds for mosquitoes, undermining prevention efforts.
Similar concerns were raised by Dr. Mary Alex-Wele, Senior Lecturer and Head of Medical Microbiology at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital. She said malaria prevention must extend beyond the use of insecticide-treated nets.
“We live in a malaria-endemic environment. Mosquitoes are part of our surroundings,” she explained. While supporting the use of mosquito nets, insect repellents, and preventive medication for high-risk groups such as pregnant women and people living with sickle-cell disease, she emphasised that environmental cleanliness remains a critical but often neglected tool.
“Clearing bushy areas, eliminating stagnant water, and keeping our surroundings clean will significantly reduce mosquito populations,” she said.
At the policy level, the Federal Government has renewed efforts to address the challenge. In 2024, it launched the Advisory on Malaria Elimination in Nigeria (AMEN), describing malaria as a “wicked problem” that costs the country more than $1.1 billion annually in lost productivity.
Minister of Health, Prof. Ali Pate, said the disease continues to claim an unacceptable number of lives, particularly among children. “Over 180,000 children under the age of five died in 2022 alone from this preventable disease,” he said.
As part of new interventions, Nigeria received its first one million doses of malaria vaccines in 2024, which were deployed in Kebbi and Bayelsa states—two areas with a high disease burden. According to the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Muyi Aina, more than 101,000 children have so far been vaccinated.
Government officials report that recent interventions are yielding some results. At the 2025 Joint Annual Review meeting, Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Salako, said malaria control programmes have helped avert an estimated 18 million cases annually. Between 2021 and 2023, about 63 million insecticide-treated nets were distributed nationwide, with 70 per cent of households now owning at least one net. He also noted that 51 per cent of pregnant women received preventive malaria therapy during the period.
Despite these gains, experts warn that eliminating malaria in Nigeria will require sustained funding, stronger primary healthcare systems, environmental reforms, and broader public education. Until these measures align, malaria is likely to remain both a health crisis and an economic burden for millions of Nigerians.