Malaria Eradication Bill Nears Passage as Nwoko Seeks Dedicated National Agency

The Senator representing Delta North, Senator Ned Nwoko, has said Nigeria is on the verge of taking a major step in the battle against malaria with the proposed establishment of a dedicated Malaria Eradication Agency.

Speaking with Senate correspondents on Wednesday, Nwoko disclosed that the Malaria Eradication Bill, which has already scaled the Senate, is currently before the House of Representatives for concurrence and could soon be transmitted to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for assent.

The lawmaker described malaria as one of Africa’s most devastating public health challenges, stressing that the disease continues to affect millions of people and places a heavy burden on families, particularly children and low-income households.

According to him, the proposed legislation seeks to establish a specialised national agency that will coordinate malaria prevention, surveillance, planning, treatment interventions and eradication efforts across the country.

Nwoko said the creation of a dedicated institution is necessary to ensure a focused and sustained approach to tackling the disease, rather than relying on fragmented interventions.

“Malaria has touched virtually every family. It is a disease that we have lived with for too long, but it does not have to remain part of our future,” he said.

The senator expressed confidence that once the House of Representatives approves the bill and the President signs it into law, the agency will spearhead a coordinated nationwide campaign aimed at dramatically reducing malaria infections and deaths.

He argued that malaria eradication is achievable, citing examples from other parts of the world where governments successfully eliminated the disease through deliberate policies, environmental management and sustained public awareness campaigns.

Recalling a recent engagement with United Nations officials, Nwoko referenced Italy’s historical experience in combating malaria, noting that coordinated waste management, public education and government commitment played a critical role in eliminating the disease.

He maintained that Nigeria can replicate similar successes if adequate resources, political will and institutional support are deployed.

Drawing comparisons with the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the senator said the world had demonstrated that seemingly impossible health challenges could be overcome when governments mobilise resources and act with urgency.

“COVID-19 showed what can happen when governments, institutions and communities unite behind a common goal. The same level of commitment can help us defeat malaria,” he stated.

Nwoko further rejected the notion that malaria should be accepted as a permanent reality in Africa, insisting that a well-funded agency backed by a clear five-to-ten-year strategy could significantly reduce, if not completely eradicate, the disease in Nigeria.

He called on Nigerians, health stakeholders and development partners to support the initiative, saying public awareness and community participation would be crucial to the success of the proposed programme.

The senator also urged citizens to remain hopeful, assuring that lawmakers and relevant stakeholders are committed to delivering a lasting solution to a disease that has claimed countless lives across the continent.

If enacted, the bill will establish a dedicated federal agency solely responsible for coordinating Nigeria’s malaria eradication agenda, a move advocates say could mark a turning point in the country’s public health efforts.