In a bold move to address one of Nigeria’s most persistent public health challenges, Senator Ned Munir Nwoko (Delta North) today presented a bill on the floor of the Senate seeking the establishment of the National Agency for Malaria Eradication.
The bill, which proposes the creation of a specialized agency dedicated solely to the fight against malaria, aims to consolidate efforts across government and health institutions, with a focus on research, innovation, and coordinated public health strategies.
“Malaria continues to claim countless lives in Nigeria, especially among women and children,” Senator Nwoko said during his presentation. “This bill seeks to create a dedicated agency to lead the fight—through research, innovation, and coordinated public health efforts.”
He emphasized the urgent need to elevate the fight against malaria to a national priority. “It’s time we treat malaria as a national emergency. Together, we can end it,” he declared.
Malaria remains a leading cause of death and illness in Nigeria, despite years of control efforts. Senator Nwoko, a longtime advocate for malaria eradication and founder of the Ned Nwoko Malaria Eradication Project, has invested millions of dollars in regional campaigns and scientific research aimed at ending the disease in Africa.
The proposed agency, if established, will be responsible for formulating national policies, coordinating state and federal efforts, mobilizing resources, and supporting vaccine development and genetic innovation to eliminate the disease.
The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Health for further legislative consideration.
