The Nigerian Senate on Thursday passed for second reading a bill seeking to establish the National Agency for Malaria Eradication (NAME), a dedicated institution aimed at comprehensively tackling the country's alarming malaria burden.
The bill, titled "A Bill for an Act to Establish the National Agency for Malaria Eradication and for Related Matters, 2025 (SB. 172)," was sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko (APC, Delta North) who presented it during plenary.
Leading the debate, Senator Nwoko highlighted the devastating impact of malaria in Nigeria, citing the World Health Organisation's 2024 report which revealed that Nigeria accounts for over 184,000 out of 600,000 annual global malaria deaths—the highest mortality rate worldwide.
"This situation is worrisome and undoubtedly a national emergency requiring immediate and coordinated legislative action," Nwoko stated during his presentation.
Beyond Public Health: The Broader Impact of Malaria
The lawmaker emphasized that malaria transcends being merely a public health issue, describing it as "a structural crisis that impairs maternal health, drains economic productivity, and impedes national development."
According to the bill's sponsor, malaria is responsible for approximately 11% of maternal deaths in Nigeria, contributing to miscarriages, infant deaths, stillbirths, and severe anaemia. The disease also exacts a significant economic toll through lost productivity, reduced business output, and increasing pressure on healthcare infrastructure.
Proposed Agency's Mandate
The proposed National Agency for Malaria Eradication would serve as a centralized and autonomous body tasked with coordinating national malaria eradication efforts. Its responsibilities would include:
- Formulating and implementing national policies on malaria eradication
- Coordinating inter-agency and sectoral responses with legal authority
- Mobilizing and managing resources efficiently and transparently
- Supporting vaccine research and genetic innovations targeting malaria
Senator Nwoko criticized the current fragmented structure of malaria control in Nigeria, noting that the existing National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) lacks operational capacity, while the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) has limited reach.
"A fragmented structure cannot confront a mutating threat. We need a unified, science-driven, and legislatively backed institution with the singular mandate to end malaria in Nigeria," he declared.
Cross-Party Support
The bill received broad support across party lines, with senators including Victor Umeh (LP, Anambra Central), Ede Dafinone (APC, Delta Central), Babangida Oseni (APC, Jigawa North West), and Onyewuchi Francis (LP, Imo East) endorsing the proposed agency as a bold and overdue step toward malaria elimination in Nigeria.
Following the debate, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North) referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Health for further legislative action, with instructions to submit a report within four weeks.
If passed into law, the establishment of NAME would represent a significant step in Nigeria's fight against malaria, potentially saving thousands of lives and reducing the economic burden of the disease on the nation.
