Senate passes bill for National Agency for Malaria Elimination

The Senate on Tuesday passed the bill for the establishment of the National Agency for Malaria Elimination at third reading. The move follows the adoption of a report by the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary), chaired by Senator Ipalabo Banigo. She said the agency would shift Nigeria's malaria strategy from curative to preventive approaches. Banigo added that zonal and state offices would be created for nationwide operations, guided by a legally backed strategic plan rooted in science and accountability. Senator Ned Nwoko, sponsor of the bill and representative for Delta North, said malaria elimination in Nigeria is "practicable and achievable." He cited research and global health exploration as the foundation for the bill, including a trip he made to Antarctica with legislative aides. Nwoko said the agency would centralise efforts in waste management, large-scale fumigation, and sustained research into vaccines and prevention. He stressed that Nigeria's current system focuses too heavily on treatment, not prevention. Nwoko argued that a dedicated institution with legal and scientific authority is necessary to achieve elimination. Senate President Godswill Akpabio called the bill a significant moment in Nigeria's public health journey. Akpabio said the legislation is not symbolic, stating, "We want to see results that Nigerians can feel in their daily lives." He affirmed the Senate's commitment to ensuring the law leads to tangible outcomes. The bill now awaits further legislative processes after its third reading approval. It proposes a coordinated national framework aimed at eradicating malaria, positioning the fight as a development priority.

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