The National Malaria Elimination Programme has distributed over 320 million insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs) and 450 million doses of Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine and Amodiaquine to children under five since 2009.
NMEP’s national coordinator, Nnenna Ogbulafor, revealed this in Minna during the launch of the 2025 mass distribution campaign for mosquito nets.
The campaign is being carried out in partnership with the Global Fund, Catholic Relief Services, Malaria Consortium, and the Society for Family Health.
Speaking on her behalf, Mary Esema, head of integrated vector management at NMEP, said these interventions had greatly reduced malaria cases and child deaths across Nigeria.
She explained that the ITN campaign, which began in 2009, and the introduction of SPAQ in 2013, had made Nigeria one of the leaders in malaria prevention in sub-Saharan Africa.
“These efforts show the federal government’s strong commitment, with support from partners, to protect vulnerable groups, especially children and pregnant women,” she said.
Esema also praised the Niger State Government for its continued efforts in fighting malaria, noting that over 11.4 million mosquito nets had been distributed in the state since 2009.
Ibrahim Idris, Director of Public Health at the Niger State Ministry of Secondary Health, said the campaign aimed to reduce malaria to pre-elimination levels in the state.
He added that malaria still poses a major health challenge, with a 21% prevalence rate contributing to Nigeria’s 68 million annual cases.
He announced that about 3.2 million mosquito nets would be distributed to households and over 1.5 million children would receive monthly doses of SPAQ during the rainy season.
“Our goal is to achieve universal coverage and at least 80 percent use of treated nets in all communities,” Idris said.
Abdullahi Imam, Permanent Secretary of the Niger Ministry of Health, said the government of Governor Umaru Bago had made health a top priority, especially for women and children.
Ayuba Apagu, State Programme Manager of Malaria Consortium, said the campaign represented another milestone in efforts to make Niger State malaria-free.
Mustapha Jibrin, chairman-elect of Chanchaga Local Government, also pledged full support to ensure the campaign’s success at the grassroots level.
