Senate has passed a bill seeking to establish the National Agency for Malaria Elimination (NAME), a proposed body aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s fight against malaria through a more coordinated and specialised approach.
Gatekeepers News reports that the legislation scaled through during plenary and is part of efforts to tackle one of the country’s most persistent public health challenges.
The bill, sponsored by Ned Nwoko, seeks to create a centralised agency dedicated to malaria elimination. According to the proposal, the agency would coordinate national malaria control policies, mobilise resources, promote research into vaccines and innovative treatments, and strengthen collaboration among relevant health institutions.
Speaking in support of the legislation, Nwoko argued that Nigeria bears one of the heaviest malaria burdens globally and requires a stronger institutional framework to address the disease.
He said malaria continues to claim thousands of lives, affect productivity, and place a significant burden on families and the healthcare system.
Several senators backed the bill, describing malaria as a major public health threat that demands urgent and sustained intervention. Lawmakers said a dedicated agency could help reduce malaria-related deaths, improve prevention programmes, and enhance the country’s capacity to respond to emerging challenges associated with the disease.
The proposal builds on earlier legislative efforts and follows concerns that existing malaria control structures are fragmented and lack sufficient capacity to drive nationwide eradication efforts. The bill is expected to proceed to the next stages of the legislative process before becoming law.
