Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Henry Owen
Nigeria has experienced a devastating rise in malaria cases, with over 24 million people testing positive for the disease in the first nine months of 2025, according to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. The latest report from Abuja shows that between January and September, a total of 24.47 million Nigerians were diagnosed with malaria.
During this period, more than 34 million Nigerians underwent testing for the disease. The number of tests and confirmed positive cases increased steadily each quarter, reflecting a worsening trend. The first quarter saw about 10.5 million tests with over 7.3 million positive cases, while the second quarter recorded approximately 11.5 million tests with more than 7.8 million cases. The third quarter experienced the highest figures, with nearly 13 million tests and over 9.3 million confirmed cases.
Treatment data shows a similar upward trajectory. Nearly 7.14 million people received malaria treatment in the first quarter, with the numbers rising to about 7.66 million in the second quarter and over 9 million in the third quarter. In total, nearly 24 million Nigerians received treatment for malaria in just nine months.
Health officials warn that the increase is driven by several factors. The rainy season creates ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes that spread malaria. Additionally, many Nigerians delay seeking treatment, which allows the disease to spread further. Gaps in healthcare infrastructure and services also hamper efforts to control the disease effectively.
During the Joint Annual Review in Abuja, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, stressed the importance of accelerating intervention efforts. He acknowledged that the rising number of cases demands urgent action, including increased distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets, prompt diagnosis, community awareness campaigns, and strengthening health systems nationwide.
Experts warn that unless these preventive measures are scaled up significantly, Nigeria's malaria burden could worsen, continuing into the final quarter of 2025 and beyond. The fight against malaria remains a critical health priority for the country.
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