The Nigerian Senate has successfully passed a bill for the establishment of the National Agency for Malaria Elimination. The bill, which was sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko representing Delta North, has now passed its third reading. Nwoko emphasized that the goal of eliminating malaria in Nigeria is not only realistic but also attainable.
The passage followed the presentation and approval of a report by Senator Ipalibo Harry Banigo, who heads the Senate Committee on Health. According to Banigo, the proposed agency will coordinate all national activities aimed at preventing, controlling, and eventually eradicating malaria. She highlighted that the agency would shift the country’s focus from treating malaria to preventing it altogether. For effective nationwide coverage, the agency will establish zonal and state offices, operate under a legally backed strategic plan, and prioritize science and accountability.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio praised the legislation as a significant step in the fight against malaria, which he described as the most common illness in the region. Speaking to journalists after the bill’s passage, Senator Nwoko expressed confidence that the agency would make Nigeria the first malaria-free country in Africa. He noted that his research on malaria elimination led him to Antarctica with his legislative aides, which inspired the bill. Nwoko assured that the agency would utilize waste management, fumigation, and vaccine research to eliminate malaria across Nigeria.