Abuja: Prof. Olugbenga Mokuolu, a health expert and Strategic Adviser to the Coordinating Minister of Health on Malaria elimination, has said that innovation and sustained collaboration are key drivers in Nigeria’s efforts to eliminate malaria. He emphasized that these approaches are also central to reducing the burden of the disease among vulnerable populations nationwide.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Mokuolu, who is also a consultant pediatrician and senior national malaria programme official, noted that guided by policy frameworks and partnerships, Nigeria is positioned to achieve a malaria-free status in the future. The country’s efforts are anchored on the National Malaria Policy and the National Malaria Strategic Plan (2026-2030), which outline commitments, direction, and actionable strategies for effective implementation nationwide.
Mokuolu explained that the strategic plan, developed in five-year cycles, captures comprehensive approaches to prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and coordination
of malaria interventions across different levels of healthcare delivery systems nationwide. “Malaria control in Nigeria is not a one-dimensional effort. It involves a combination of preventive, diagnostic, and treatment strategies working together to deliver impact,” he stated.
Collaboration remains a legal and operational cornerstone of malaria response, involving government institutions, development partners, civil society organizations, and the private sector working together toward shared national goals. Mokuolu highlighted mechanisms such as the national technical malaria working group, which ensures transparency and alignment, enabling partners to share plans, funding commitments, and areas of intervention effectively across sectors.
He pointed out the strong intersectoral collaboration involving ministries such as education, environment, and agriculture, as well as agencies like the armed forces and meteorological institutions. Community engagement is also crucial, with traditional rulers, religious
leaders, and grassroots organizations playing active roles in promoting awareness, encouraging preventive practices, and strengthening accountability within affected communities.
On the innovation front, Mokuolu referenced the rollout of malaria vaccines following approvals by the World Health Organization in 2021 and 2023, marking a significant milestone in global malaria prevention efforts. Nigeria began phased implementation of the vaccine in December 2024, targeting high-burden states including Kebbi and Bayelsa, before expanding to Bauchi and Ondo in early 2026.
Due to limited supply and high costs, vaccines are being deployed strategically, particularly targeting children under two years in areas with the highest malaria transmission rates nationwide. “The vaccine is not a standalone solution but a complementary tool that is already showing promising results in areas where it has been introduced,” Mokuolu said.
In addition to vaccines, improved diagnostic tools, including rapid diagnostic tests and m
icroscopy, are essential components of malaria control and effective case management across healthcare facilities nationwide. Preventive measures such as insecticide-treated nets, indoor residual spraying, larval source management, and seasonal malaria chemoprevention are also critical, especially in northern states where transmission remains persistently high annually.
Mokuolu noted that Nigeria adopts a multi-pronged approach because malaria is complex and requires simultaneous interventions to achieve meaningful reductions in prevalence, transmission rates, and mortality across affected populations. He identified limited resources, difficult terrain, and security concerns as major obstacles to delivering malaria interventions effectively at the community level, particularly in hard-to-reach areas.
Despite these challenges, careful planning and stakeholder cooperation have enabled the programme to reach many vulnerable populations, improving access to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services graduall
y nationwide. Mokuolu emphasized that sustained innovation, adequate funding, and stronger collaboration across all levels would remain essential to achieving a malaria-free Nigeria in the coming years through coordinated action.