The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, has revealed that the state’s malaria prevalence has fallen to 1.3%, positioning Lagos on the brink of achieving malaria pre-elimination, in line with benchmarks set by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Speaking on Friday during an awareness walk and strategic stakeholder engagement event held in Lagos to commemorate World Malaria Day 2025, Professor Abayomi attributed the milestone to deliberate, data-driven interventions.
The event, themed “Malaria Ends With Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite,” was organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Society for Family Health (SFH) and Goodknight Nigeria.
Professor Abayomi highlighted the state’s notable progress over the past 15 years in tackling malaria.
“Lagos has now achieved a malaria prevalence rate of 1.3% and is fast approaching pre-elimination status as defined by the WHO.
“In 2010, Lagos had a malaria prevalence of 15%, which reduced to 3% by 2023. Now, the most recent data from March-April 2025 indicates we have reached an encouraging 1.3% prevalence rate.
“This is a historic milestone in our public health journey, demonstrating that Lagos is firmly on the path to malaria pre-elimination,” he stated.
He described malaria as a vector-borne disease transmitted by the female Anopheles mosquito, stressing the need for proper diagnosis and treatment using Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT) for confirmed cases.
“Early detection and accurate treatment not only protect the infected individual but also help prevent the further spread of the parasite. It is essential that citizens trust malaria test results and avoid unnecessary treatment,” he explained.
Despite the significant decline in malaria cases, Professor Abayomi expressed concern about the continued misuse of antimalarial drugs.
“Even with just 3% testing positive for malaria, over half of fever patients are still being treated for it. This trend must change,” he warned, calling for greater public awareness and responsible prescribing practices among healthcare providers.
He stressed the need to prioritise vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women and children under five.
“Their immune systems are either underdeveloped or compromised. It is crucial that all fever cases are tested appropriately and that only confirmed malaria cases are treated, particularly in these groups,” he said.
The Commissioner also pointed to partnerships with the WHO, the Federal Ministry of Health, and the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria under the IMPACT Project as pivotal to Lagos’s drive towards malaria elimination.
Professor Abayomi underlined Lagos State’s 15-year dedication to the National Malaria Strategic Plan, acknowledging the contributions of previous health commissioners and committed public health workers.
He commended the vision and political support of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who has formally mandated the Ministry to lead Lagos towards malaria pre-elimination and eventual eradication.
According to Abayomi, the governor’s backing, through the provision of data, resources, and political will, underscores a genuine commitment to eliminating malaria.
He added that Lagos is setting a standard not only in Nigeria but across Africa by creating a sustainable, evidence-based pathway towards a malaria-free future.
Also speaking at the event, Assistant Public Health Officer for the WHO, Aisha Abdulkareem, called for a renewed global commitment to the fight against malaria.
She noted that although an estimated 2.2 billion malaria cases and 12.7 million deaths have been prevented worldwide over the past two decades, recent progress has been hampered by challenges such as climate change, conflict, and economic instability.
Abdulkareem urged stakeholders to reinvest in proven strategies, rethink current approaches, and reignite both local and international efforts.
She stressed that ending malaria should not only be viewed as a public health goal but as a vital investment in building a safer and more prosperous future for all.
