The Niger State government has earmarked N150 million for malaria control efforts in 2025, including the purchase of treatment commodities, logistics for distributing insecticide-treated nets, and other related initiatives aimed at eradicating malaria.
The Commissioner for Secondary and Tertiary Health, Dr. Bello Tukur, made this known during a press briefing in Minna on Monday to mark the 2025 World Malaria Day.
According to Tukur, the government has distributed 199,250 insecticide-treated nets to pregnant women and children under five, while 2,165,699 individuals with confirmed malaria cases received free treatment with Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACTs) over the past year.
He further disclosed that 1,517,684 children were administered Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine plus Amodiaquine (SPAQ) across health facilities during last year’s peak rainy season to prevent malaria infections. Tukur noted that these interventions have contributed to a significant decline in malaria prevalence across the state.
“The goal is to achieve a parasite prevalence of less than 10 per cent and reduce mortality attributable to malaria to less than 50 deaths per 1,000 live births by the end of year 2025.
“This year, the theme for the World Malaria Day commemoration is “Malaria end with us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Re-ignite”, and the slogan is “Stay committed”. The interventions adopted by the government have led to a decrease in out-patient attendance and hospital admission due to malaria”, he said.
The Commissioner, who spoke about the dwindling funds in the health sector due to the pullout of USAID and other donor partners, said that the state is not worried about the dwindling funding as the state is ready to take up the responsibility, especially with the state malaria exit plan which is being implemented.
“The stage is ready to take up the responsibility if the funds eventually get dried up. We are ready to step in. Already, we are doing the 1-1 matching where the government puts in the same amount put into a project by the donor partner.
“We are aware of the dwindling funds but we are not worried about it as we are up and capable”.
Pharmacists under the platform of Pharmacists Affairs Group have advised Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) to declare Open Drug Market a public health emergency.
The group also advised the National Assembly to expedite action on the passage of Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Bill.
The group noted that these are necessary in order to safeguard the health of the citizens.
The group made the plea via a communique issued at the end of its April 2025 edition of the Point Blank Dialogue, a platform for crucial discussions on Nigeria’s healthcare system.
The virtual event, held via Zoom, gathered stakeholders from regulatory bodies, pharmaceutical distributors, policymakers, academia, and healthcare professionals to address the impact of Open Drug Markets (ODMs) on Nigeria’s pharmaceutical supply chain.
The event which has “Circumventing the Impact of Open Drug Markets on Nigeria’s Pharmaceutical Supply Chain,” saw expert speakers outline the devastating effects of unregulated drug markets on public health, with calls for urgent reforms.
Some of the speakers at the event include; Pharm Anthony Bola Oyawole, FPSN, Past Chairman, PSN Lagos State, and CEO of Barod Associates Ltd, Pharm Ogheneochuko Omaruaye, FPSN, Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Wholesalers and Distributors Association of Nigeria (PWDAN), and CEO of New Heights Pharmaceuticals Ltd and Pharm Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmed, FPSN, Registrar of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN).
The experts who spoke at the conference noted several critical issues that need urgent attention.
They decried the rise of open drug markets in the country, advising the NGF to declare it a public health emergency.
They also urged the National Assembly to expedite action on the passage of Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Bill.
“Key findings. Experts noted several critical issues that need urgent attention. The rise of open drug markets: PPMVs, initially created to address pharmaceutical gaps in underserved areas, have unintentionally contributed to the proliferation of ODMs in Nigeria.
“Regulatory oversight over PPMVs has been historically inadequate, leading to the unchecked spread of substandard drugs. ODMs cost Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry over ₦200 billion annually in lost revenue due to illicit sales.
“Research has shown that ODMs are responsible for a significant percentage of counterfeit drugs in the market, endangering public health. The closure of the Sabon-Geri Open Drug Market in Kano by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) and NAFDAC serves as a model for successful interventions.
“Resolutions and calls to action. During the dialogue, participants resolved to take the following actions. Close open drug markets: Fast-track the establishment of Coordinated Wholesale Centres (CWCs) in key states and intensify enforcement against non-compliant markets.
“Strengthen Supply Chains: Prioritize local manufacturing and establish a blockchain-based tracking system to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s pharmaceutical supply chain.
“Launch a national #DrugSafetyNG campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of unregulated drug markets. Legislative Advocacy: Call for the Nigerian Governors’ Forum to declare ODMs a public health emergency and expedite the passage of the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Bill.
“Participants committed to reconvening in October 2025 to assess the progress made in tackling ODMs and improving Nigeria’s pharmaceutical supply chain. Additionally, a six-month progress report will be published, detailing efforts on CWC establishment, the closure of illegal markets, and supply chain reforms.
” The Pharmacists Affairs Group is dedicated to improving the pharmaceutical sector in Nigeria, focusing on regulatory reforms, public health advocacy, and collaboration with national and international stakeholders”.
As the world observed World Malaria Day 2025, the Nigerian National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) has debunked common myths surrounding the disease.
During a tweetchat with media personality, Esther Adekeye aka Cute Kimani, NMEP noted that contrary to widely held beliefs, malaria is not caused by walking in the sun, stress, witchcraft, or excessive consumption of red oil.
He, however, said it is caused by the Plasmodium parasite, transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito.
The tweetchat conversation, held under the theme “Malaria Ends With Us – Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite”, served as a timely reminder that the fight against malaria is far from over—and that every Nigerian has a part to play.
Revealing that one out of five global malaria-related deaths happens in Nigeria, an estimated 23 people die from malaria-related complications every hour, and about 65 million cases are reported annually, NMEP maintained that Nigeria remains the global epicenter of malaria, with one in every four cases worldwide occurring within its borders.
NMEP also stated that children and pregnant women remain the most vulnerable groups.
However, the message of hope and empowerment echoed throughout the chat. Malaria is preventable and curable. Simple actions, according to the anti-malaria organisation, such as sleeping under insecticide-treated nets, eliminating stagnant water, and ensuring that pregnant women receive preventive treatments during antenatal care, can go a long way in saving lives.
NMEP also stressed the importance of testing fevers using rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) before administering treatment. When confirmed, malaria can be fully cured with Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT), a safe and effective treatment available across Nigeria.
The chat also addressed broader challenges, including underfunding, weak health systems, and growing resistance to insecticides and antimalarial drugs in some parts of the world—though not yet in Africa.
On her part, Esther Adekeye, the Lead Partner at Estol Africa, expressed appreciation to NMEP for its continued fight against malaria.
“Through strategic interventions, including distribution of insecticide-treated nets, indoor spraying, and targeted treatment campaigns, NMEP has significantly reduced malaria transmission,” Cutekimani added.
Echoing NMEP’s campaign against malaria, the Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN) calls on all stakeholders — government parastatals, healthcare professionals, international partners, and the private sector to further intensify their efforts in combating the disease.
Major health organizations, Green Life Pharmaceuticals, Green Life Hospital, Seagreen Pharmaceutical, and Clearline HMO have joined forces to lead a large-scale awareness and prevention campaign.
This initiative was driven by a common goal: to eradicate malaria from Nigeria through education, community engagement, and access to testing and treatment.
The event held at the University of Lagos on Friday , was themed “Malaria Ends with Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite.
Hundreds of students and community members gathered to participate in free malaria testing and receive malaria prevention kits and medication, courtesy of the collaborating partners. Beyond the distribution of medical supplies, the event served as a powerful platform to educate young people about malaria, its symptoms, prevention, and the dangers of drug abuse in relation to health management.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Peter Nwosu, Executive Director of Green Life Pharmaceuticals, underscored the importance of the event, highlighting it as both a commemorative and impactful outreach. “We are here not just to mark a global health awareness day but to make a real difference in this vibrant community,” he stated. He emphasized the seriousness of malaria, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, and reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to improving public health through its corporate social responsibility programs.
Dr. Oghenerukevwe Peretomode, Medical Officer with Clearline HMO, stressed the need for a collective response from both the government and individuals to reduce the incidence of malaria. She called for more funding, innovation, and public education to support malaria prevention efforts. “Everyone has a role to play,” she said, “from using mosquito-treated nets and maintaining clean environments to avoiding actions that promote mosquito breeding, like dumping refuse in drainage systems.” Dr. Peretomode also pointed out that climate change, through increased flooding and warmer weather, is contributing to the rise in malaria cases, further emphasizing the need for environmental responsibility.
The event’s focus on youth was intentional. According to Mr. Chris Ikeagu, General Manager of Green Life Hospital, “We chose UNILAG because we want to engage young people directly. They are the ones who can carry the message forward to their homes and communities. Older generations are already familiar with malaria, but we believe that prevention starts with youth education.”
He emphasized the deadly nature of malaria and reiterated that early awareness and proper treatment are key to combating the disease.
The federal government is aiming to reach 30 million children with malaria preventive treatment in 2025, in its most ambitious efforts yet to curb the deadly disease in Nigeria, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, has revealed.
The Minister also addressed the halt of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) President’s Malaria Initiative operations in some States, assuring Nigerians that the federal government has budgeted for the procurement of essential malaria commodities, including ACTs, diagnostic kits, and preventive medication for pregnant women to fill the gap.
Speaking virtually at the World Malaria Day commemoration in Abuja on Friday, organized by the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) and the Malaria Council in collaboration with the Gates Foundation, the Minister said the treatment will be delivered through the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) programme in 21 eligible States, all in the northern region where malaria transmission is highest.
Salako described the country’s malaria burden as staggering, with Nigeria accounting for 27 percent of global malaria cases and 31 percent of global deaths, according to the 2024 World Malaria Report.
He said malaria remains a top public health crisis, disproportionately affecting children under five and pregnant women, and disrupting economic productivity and family incomes.
To address this, he said the government is rolling out a multi-pronged strategy under the Rethinking Malaria Initiative.
Central to this, according to him, is the scale-up of evidence-based interventions, including the mass distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets across 12 States this year and the phased introduction of the malaria vaccine, which has already reached 80,000 children in Kebbi and Bayelsa states.
The vaccine programme will expand to 17 more States in 2025, targeting children aged 5 to 23 months, he said.
Salako said in a move to tackle mosquito breeding at source, the Ministry will also pilot Larval Source Management in Abia, Borno, Ekiti, Lagos, Ondo and Rivers States.
Alongside this, two national surveys, the Rapid Impact Assessment and the Malaria Indicator Survey are being launched to monitor the effectiveness of current interventions and inform future policies.
Commending the high-level political support for malaria elimination from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister acknowledged the contributions of domestic and international partners.
He also acknowledged the Nigeria End Malaria Council, chaired by Alhaji Aliko Dangote, as a key player in mobilizing private sector resources to complement government funding.
Calling for collective action, Salako urged Nigerians to take simple personal steps like sleeping under treated nets, seeking early diagnosis and treatment, and keeping their surroundings clean. “Malaria ends with us,” he said, echoing the theme of this year’s campaign. “We must stay committed.”
While appreciating the frontline health workers, state governments, and global partners, the Minister cautioned that the road to malaria elimination remains long.
“We cannot afford complacency. The fight continues until we defeat malaria once and for all,” he said.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachallom stressed that Nigeria’s fight against malaria remains an enduring battle, with over 70 years of effort and billions spent on interventions.
She emphasized the country’s ongoing struggle against the disease, which still claims lives despite improved awareness and treatments, saying, “People assume malaria isn’t serious, but it’s deadly. If you have symptoms, go to the hospital,” while reminding the public that the federal government has subsidized malaria treatment, particularly in primary healthcare centers, through the National Health Insurance Agency.
She linked broader challenges such as climate change, insecurity, and humanitarian crises to the difficulties of eliminating malaria, noting that Nigeria’s status as an agrarian nation makes it particularly vulnerable.
The Technical Working Group and inter-ministerial collaboration, she said, have been crucial in making headway.
The theme for this year, according to her, calls for reflection and renewed commitment. Since 2010, malaria cases have dropped by 20%, and deaths by 25%, a significant improvement but still far from eradication.
Kachallom also highlighted the role of the private sector and donor partners, referencing the End Malaria Council chaired by Aliko Dangote. “We’re exploring all funding avenues to push us across the finish line,” she said.
While noting that the event also marked the 25th anniversary of the Abuja Declaration, a 2000 pledge by African leaders to eliminate malaria, Kachallom commended the partners and NGOs for their continued support, calling their contributions vital to Nigeria’s path toward a malaria-free future.
A panel of public health experts during the roundtable underscored the devastating impact of malaria on individuals, families, and society, stressing its toll on the economy and national productivity.
While acknowledging the government’s efforts, they called for intensified efforts to combat the disease and sustain progress toward elimination.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling malaria, with the Nyesom Wike-led government intensifying efforts to curb the disease.
The Mandate Secretary of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasewe, emphasized the urgency of the campaign, noting that despite being the nation’s capital, the FCT remains vulnerable to the malaria burden.
Fasewe, who disclosed that malaria affects nearly 19% of Abuja’s population, accounting for an estimated 1.4 million cases each year, highlighted that rural communities are disproportionately affected, with only 31.1% of residents having access to insecticide-treated nets, and just 42.2% of children actually sleeping under them.
Speaking in Abuja on Friday at the Asokoro General Hospital, during the commemoration of this year’s World Malaria Day, she said, “As Nigeria joins the world to mark World Malaria Day 2025, the message from the FCT is clear, malaria must end, and it starts with action from every corner of the community.
“Malaria is preventable and treatable, yet it continues to claim lives, especially among children under five, pregnant women, and residents in underserved communities. This must not continue.”
Noting that with the theme ‘Malaria Ends With Us: Reinvest. Reimagine. Reignite,’ the Mandate Secretary stressed that this year’s campaign pushes for renewed commitment, innovation, and urgency.
While addressing a gathering that included stakeholders, development partners, and numerous pregnant and nursing mothers, she assured that the FCT Administration is intensifying its interventions, enhancing surveillance, and collaborating with both local and international partners to tackle malaria hotspots.
“Globally, Nigeria remains the epicentre of the disease. In 2023 alone, the country accounted for 68 million cases, about 27% of the world’s malaria burden.
“Every naira invested today in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment saves lives tomorrow,” she said, emphasizing the need to reinvest in proven tools and reimagine approaches through innovation and technology,” Fasawe said.
While urging parents to take proactive measures, she emphasized that simple actions can make a significant difference in the fight against malaria.
She encouraged residents to sleep under treated mosquito nets, eliminate stagnant water, seek testing at the first sign of symptoms, and raise awareness within their communities.
“The government cannot do it alone. We need parents, teachers, religious leaders, and traditional rulers on board. This is a collective fight.
“Whether you’re a policymaker, a market trader, or a schoolteacher, the message from all speakers was the same: malaria won’t end unless everyone takes responsibility.
“Community chiefs, mothers, health workers—Abuja needs your leadership. Let us build a future where no child dies from a mosquito bite.”
She encouraged mothers and pregnant women in the FCT to take full advantage of government healthcare initiatives, including the FHIS insurance scheme, to improve their well-being and promote economic empowerment.
The Mandate Secretary also enjoined the men across the territory to play their part in curbing the disease by taking advantage of the intervention packages specifically designed for men under the FCT’s malaria prevention program.
In her remarks, Dr. Kumshida Balami, the FCT Coordinator/Health Emergency Response Operations and Integrated Service Delivery at the World Health Organisation (WHO) expressed her organization’s backing of the FCT’s efforts, emphasizing that malaria remains one of the deadliest yet most preventable diseases globally.
While she noted that routine malaria vaccines and swift case management are saving millions of lives, Balami stressed that much work remains.
“New mosquitoes are moving into urban areas, so we must adapt. Communities need to understand the risk and respond accordingly,” Wassie said, stressing the importance of accurate information and local engagement to curb hesitancy and misinformation.
“We can lead Nigeria in using modern tools to fight malaria effectively. Reignite: Every Abuja resident has a role to play.
“Ending malaria is not just the government’s job, it is our job. Our Chiefs, guide your communities to use mosquito nets and seek treatment early.
“Mothers, protect your children and encourage vaccination. Health workers, help everyone get the right care at the right time. Young people, learn and teach others about malaria prevention.
“We must work together, leaders, mothers, health workers, and the government to make Abuja a malaria-free city,” she said.
Also, the Malaria Consortium emphasized the need to sustain malaria support in the trenches
Dr. Maxwell Kolawole, West and Central Africa Programme Director of the Malaria Consortium, commended Abuja’s malaria response, especially the success of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC), which he noted has protected thousands of children under five since its launch in 2022.
“Malaria kills one person every minute. Mostly children. And mostly in Africa. We cannot afford to relax. It’s time to reinvest in what works, reimagine new strategies, and reignite leadership from the ground up.”
Represented by Dr. Jennifer Chukwumerije, the Technical Specialist at Malaria Consortium, Kolawole outlined several interventions the Consortium supports in Nigeria, from SMC and behaviour change campaigns like Be In A Net to monitoring drug resistance and strengthening malaria case management in both public and private health sectors.
The District Head of Jikwoyi, Nicodemus Machi, commended the FCT’s health sector initiatives and expressed appreciation for the day’s event, noting that the commemoration would go a long way in educating the residents
He also called on the Health Services Secretariat to extend its interventions to more remote areas within the FCT.
He called on the government to revive the Voluntary Health Workers scheme, noting that it could serve as an effective tool in delivering interventions to remote areas.
According to him, the door-to-door strategy of the volunteers would help accelerate the fight against the diseases, not only malaria but knowledge about FCT healthcare interventions.
The highlight of the commemoration was the presentation of free mosquito-treated nets, maternal kits and free malaria treatment.
Three years ago, during a field work to cover the worsening humanitarian crises affecting Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Maiduguri the capital of Borno State, who were still afraid of returning to their homes for fear of overnight attacks from terrorists, I was struck by a severe malaria fever that left me bedridden for weeks.
Throughout the three weeks I was afflicted by malaria battling for my life,, I witnessed a first-hand account of how malaria devastates lives and retards economic growth especially in remote communities where access to healthcare centres is still difficult or sometimes not available. I saw children suffer needlesslyand parents financially drained by medical bills. I saw parents who lost their childrenprematurely to malaria.
As a 36-year journalist who has travelled widely including reporting trips to many hard-to-reach communities, I am not new to danger and threats to life, but nothing prepared me for the surprised assault malaria launched on me. Far away from home and loved ones, and unable to cater for my family for weeks, my experience with malaria was the turning point that inspired my mission to highlight its toll, and demand Nigeria mobilize more resources to end it once and for all.
Malaria is Nigeria’s unrelenting scourge, it is in fact a national tragedy. In 2023, the World Health Organization estimated 71 million cases and 176,000 deaths, accounting for 27% of global cases and 30.9% of Africa’s malaria fatalities (WHO Malaria Fact Sheet). Children under five years made up 76% of these deaths, a heartbreaking loss of future leaders and potentials. Beyond the tragic loss of lives, malaria also cripples the economy. A 2024 study suggests that meeting global malaria reduction targets could boost Nigeria’s GDP by $35 billion (World Economic Forum). Families spend heavily—$12.57 for outpatient care, $23.20 for inpatient per case—trapping them in poverty (PLOS ONE, 2013).
2023 Malaria Statistics
Value
Global Cases
263 million
Nigeria Cases (est.)
71 million (27%)
African Region Deaths
569,000 (95% global)
Nigeria Deaths (est.)
176,000 (30.9% region)
Children Under 5 Deaths
76% of regional deaths
The R21 Vaccine: A Bright Spot
But there is good news and hope arrived with the R21/Matrix-M vaccine, launched in November 2024 in Kebbi and Bayelsa, the high-burden states. With 75% efficacy, it is a life-changing innovation for children aged 5-15 months according to the United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF Nigeria). The malaria vaccine has now been incorporated into the Routine Immunisation system and an addition to the critical malaria control interventions, including the distribution of Long-Lasting Insecticide-Treated Nets (LLINs) and Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) already implemented by government.
Nigeria secured one million doses—846,200 from GAVI, 153,800 from the government—vaccinating over 500,000 children by April 2025. Early data hint at a 30% drop in cases among vaccinated groups, though it is too early for firm conclusions (WHO Nigeria). There are plans to expand this malaria vaccination exercise nationwide, a move that would set Nigeria on the path to eradicate the scourge once and for all. But as ambitious as this plan has been, there is a massive funding gap, which must be bridged if Nigeria is to end malaria scourge.
The Resource Gap
International partners are vital to bridging this resource gap. Development Partners have invested a lot, supporting vaccines and health systems. The Global Fund pledged $993 million for 2024-2026 to fight HIV, TB, and malaria, while GAVI and the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative back seasonal chemoprevention, reaching 28.9 million kids in 2023 (Severe Malaria Observatory). The Gates Foundation has invested heavily in malaria vaccine research and has recently announced another $258.3million for malaria research and development.
Yet, Nigeria’s domestic efforts lag far behind. Only 5.75% of the national budget goes to health, well below the African Union’s 15% target (Borgen Project). The National Malaria Elimination Programme’s 2021-2025 goal of cutting morbidity to 10% and deaths to under 50 per 1,000 is at risk without intentional funds allocation by government.
Private Sector’s Role
This is where Nigeria’s private sector can step up and meet some of these obligations as seen in other parts of Africa. In Zambia,mining firms fund malaria control programmes thereby slashing local malaria cases. In Nigeria, the Nigeria End Malaria Council, launched in 2022, engages corporate leaders (PMC NEMC). The Dangote Foundation’s $50 million pledge for northern Nigeria is a model—others must follow. Companies benefit too: less malaria means fewer sick days and higher productivity.
Funding Sources
Details
Global Fund (2024–2026)
$993 million (HIV, TB, malaria)
Gates Foundation (2022)
$276 million
GAVI (R21 Vaccine)
846,200 doses
Nigeria Gov’t (R21)
153,800 doses
Health Budget
5.75% of national budget
But there are challenges even beyond funding. For instance, logistics plague the malaria vaccine rollout as rural clinics lack cold storage facilities, and vaccine hesitancy persists in some areas. Drug-resistant malaria and the urban-spreading Anopheles stephensi mosquito complicate efforts (Africa Malaria Report). Climate change and population growth fuel transmission. However, more resources could stem some of these problems, we could train more health workers to increase and hasten distribution and access, we could improve data systems like the NMEP’s 2022 repository, and fund research for new tools.
A Survivor’s Plea
As a survivor, I know malaria’s pain—physical, emotional, and economic. Nigeria’s government must raise health spending to at least 15% of the budget, prioritizing vaccine expansion and malaria prevention. Businesses should invest, not just for charity but for growth—a 90% malaria reduction by 2030 could add $35 billion to our GDP. International partners like the Gates Foundation show the way, but Nigeria must own this fight. “We’re at a turning point,” says WHO’s Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo (WHO Nigeria). Let’s seize it. More resources now mean fewer graves, healthier kids, and a stronger Nigeria. Malaria didn’t defeat me—it shouldn’t defeat us either.
The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) has said samples of the 3.2 million meters under the World Bank Distribution Sector Reform Program (DISREP) are currently in its laboratory for testing and certification.
The NEMSA Managing Director, Tukur Tahir Aliyu, broke the news to reporters in Abuja on Thursday.
He said that no meter in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) will bypass the testing and certification process of the agency.
“All these meters that are coming in, we will ensure they are tested and certified before they are allowed to be deployed. Those that are coming under the World Bank program, we are already in the process of certifying them.
“Those that are coming are in our labs now. They will be tested and certified in the country. It will not be possible for them to deploy uncertified meters,” he said.
The DISREP is targeted at supplying 3.2 million meters with 1.2 million meters in phase one, December 2024 and 1.3 million in the first quarter of 2025.
Tahir, who is also the Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation, said the industry has programs targeted at bridging its metering gap.
According to him, in addition to the DISREP, is the Presidential Metering Initiative, which is aimed at supplying seven million meters in different phases.
He said the agency embarks on monthly safety performance rankings of the utility companies.
He stressed, “We do carry out safety performance audits of these utility companies to ensure that they are operating safely in terms of maintenance, operations of the networks, expansion of the networks, and so forth.”
Asked to give an insight into the findings of the latest audit, he said the agency discovered that a lot of the companies were not adhering to the approved safety procedures for the operation and maintenance of the network.
He said, consequently, NEMSA ensured that the utility companies have all safety manuals, where all the procedures and safety requirements are well defined.
He added that the agency also carried out audits of these utility companies to ensure that they are implementing the provisions of those safety manuals. Tahir revealed that the agency has audited about eight of the companies.
The Managing Director said NEMSA is now back on auditing the utility companies to ensure that they are implementing the regulations in the safety manuals.
Continuing, he said, “Some of the observations from the ones we have done so far, like we have done one or two generating plants.
“We have done one or two DisCos, and others. We have seen that the training of their personnel on these procedures, on these safety requirements, has been lacking.”
The NEMSA boss said cash paucity is a major challenge in the industry, hindering utility companies from rehabilitating their ageing equipment.
He said it has also affected the electricity networks in the country.
Tahir was hopeful that as soon as the cash issue is resolved, there will be enough investment in the network for rehabilitation and replacement of ageing electrical materials and equipment in the network.
He explained that some of the technical glitches arise from the feeders at the transmission and distribution points.
He said the feeders that are meant to transfer bulk power from transmission to distribution, the 33 kV primary feeder lines, have been encumbered in so many ways by installing point load transformers and small transformers on the feeders.
He said although they are to carry bulk power from transmission to injection substation, when a smaller transformers, 200 kVA, 100 kVA, 50 kVA, on those lines, each installation constitutes a fault location.
He said any tripping from one of such locations affects the feeder, and sometimes these trippings are translated up to transmission.
He said one of the agency’s major challenges is the issue of permanent office accommodation, calling for a permanent office accommodation.
The Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation cited funding as another challenge for NEMSA.
He said, “Another major challenge is inadequate funding. Since the inception of the agency, we have been having this funding challenge where we are not able to make adequate provision of those facilities.
“Lack of that funding will lead us not to have adequate state-of-the-art test equipment that we use in our various statutory activities.
” That lack of funding is also affecting our provision of operational vehicles. Because when you carry out an inspection, it means you move from one location to the other.
“You have to go to those sites. And those movements are within the entire country. So you need mobility. You need operational vehicles to do that. “Another major challenge is the issue of the number of personnel. The technical personnel, for example.”
As the world commemorates World Malaria Day 2025 under the theme “Malaria Ends With Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite,” Nigerian campaigners have sounded the alarm that the country’s dream of ending malaria may remain elusive unless urgent action is taken to strengthen the national health system.
In a statement on Thursday, Francis Nwapa, convener of the #EndMalariaInNigeria campaign, stressed the need for Nigeria to stop relying on foreign aid and instead invest in its own healthcare infrastructure.
“We need to stop relying on aid that has not truly helped us reduce malaria deaths. Nigeria must take ownership of the fight and begin to invest in our hospitals, labs, and environmental health systems,” Nwapa said.
His remarks follow the recent withdrawal of malaria funding to African nations by the United States, a move that has sparked concerns across the continent.
Nwapa, however, argued that the foreign funds previously allocated were not effectively utilized in Nigeria, accusing some government officials of mismanaging resources meant for malaria control.
The group pointed to the collapse of local efforts like the Nigerian Vaccine Production Centre in Yaba, Lagos, which was once a major producer of vaccines for diseases like smallpox and yellow fever between 1940 and 1991. Today, the facility lies in ruins.
“That centre could have played a major role in producing malaria vaccines today. But it was abandoned. It shows how we’ve failed to build on our own successes,” Nwapa said.
According to the statement, past international projects such as the Roll Back Malaria programme, which involved the World Bank, UNICEF, UNDP, and WHO, did not significantly lower Nigeria’s malaria death rate despite large financial investments.
In recent years, the Nigerian government has launched new efforts like the End Malaria Council, first inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2022 and later re-inaugurated by President Bola Tinubu in 2024. The council is chaired by billionaire Aliko Dangote and includes top business leaders like Femi Otedola and Tony Elumelu.
However, the #EndMalariaInNigeria campaign questioned the effectiveness of the council, criticizing the absence of environmental health experts on the team.
“It feels more like a business project than a real health intervention,” Nwapa said. “Where are the professionals who understand mosquito control and public health?”
The World Health Organization has noted that children from the poorest households in sub-Saharan Africa are five times more likely to contract malaria than those from wealthier homes. In Nigeria, worsening poverty is making it harder for families to access healthcare and live in clean environments.
Nwapa believes that government should prioritize proper housing, constant electricity, and better waste management as part of its malaria control strategy.
“Simple things like good drainage, clean water, and power supply can stop mosquitoes from breeding. We must build modern systems to support healthy living,” he said.
Despite being one of the most malaria-endemic countries in the world, Nigeria still records over 100 million cases of malaria every year, contributing to 30% of childhood deaths, 25% of deaths in babies under one year old, and 11% of maternal deaths annually.
In contrast, African countries like Mauritius, Algeria, Egypt, and most recently Cape Verde, have been declared malaria-free by the WHO after recording no local cases for at least three years.
Nwapa concluded by calling on the government to declare a public health emergency on malaria and take full responsibility for protecting its citizens.
“Until our leaders stop flying abroad for treatment and start fixing our health system here at home, Nigerians will continue to die needlessly from a preventable disease,” he said.
The medical outreach for old students of Lagos Baptist Secondary School (LABASCO) Orile Agege, Lagos, is to hold on Saturday, April 26, 2025.
The programme to be hosted by old students of 1980 to 1990 sets will start at exactly 7.30 a.m.
Venue is the school premises – Lagos Baptist Secondary School, Orile Agege, Lagos.
The health programme will cover areas such as Cervical cancer screening for women; Prostate cancer screening for men as well as family planning and reproductive health and diabetes screening and treatment.
Other areas to be covered are hypertension screening and teeatment; malaria screening and treatment and eye (Vision) screening and glasses.
All the personnel for the exercise were sourced from the old students association.
Speaking ahead of the exercise, one of the top medical practitioners to be on duty, Dr. Aina Odusola, emphasised the importance of good health and need to ensure it.
He said apart from the screening and treatment, the old students would be empowered with knowledge on how to ensure good health.
According to him : “As the saying goes: Health is Wealth. Furthermore, knowledge is power, and the elimination of undue ignorance and negligence is an empowerment for us to take charge of our health, avoid avoidable ill-health conditions including the silent killers and live positively with unavoidable ones where diagnosed.
“Through the implementation of this project, we will screen for and empower ourselves with knowledge on how to stay healthy as we grow older and to avoid falling victims of dangerous acute and chronic diseases including cancers, mental health issues and heart and blood vessels diseases among others.
“Apart from physical screening for potential and hidden diseases so they can be nipped in the bud if by chance detected, there will also be health training, seminars and lectures on various health topics to enlighten and empower us.
“For the health training and seminars, apart from physical delivery some of these health talks when we gather together at the school premises on the 26th of April, we will also largely exploit digital health technology by deploying our mobile phones to link up effortlessly to these empowering talk series to be delivered by health experts from various fields at various convenient times based on pre announced schedules over the next weeks. It’s simple and easy.
“All we need to do is get data on our phones and link up at appropriate time and dates through the provided links, listen attentively to the talk, get enlightened and participate actively afterwards by asking any necessary questions for clarifications.”
He encouraged all the old students “to take advantage of this novel and noble healthcare delivery initiative and get empowered to take charge of our health moving forward.”
He added: “Quite some efforts including significant expenditure of time, human, financial and material resources are put into the implementation of this project.
“Please let us justify these efforts and means and maximise the potential gains by taking due advantage of this innovative opportunity.”
