The Kano State Government has suspended the implementation of its Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) programme and constituted a high-level committee to investigate its execution across the state.

The decision, announced on Thursday by the Ministry of Health, also saw the immediate suspension of the programme manager, with the programme’s responsibilities transferred to the most senior officer pending the outcome of the investigation.

According to a statement signed by the ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Nabilusi Abubakar, the probe will examine the planning, distribution and implementation of the malaria intervention.

“The suspension takes immediate effect and is intended to facilitate a thorough investigation into the programme’s operations, documentation, personnel records and all related implementation activities,” the statement said.

The Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention programme is a preventive health intervention implemented in northern Nigeria during the rainy season, where eligible children receive antimalarial medicines to reduce malaria-related illness and deaths.

The ministry said all field operations, medicine distribution and community engagement activities under the programme had been halted pending the outcome of the investigation.

It added that the investigative committee would be chaired by the Director-General of the Kano State AIDS Control Agency, Dr Usman Bashir, and include heads of key health institutions, including the State Primary Healthcare Management Board, the Drugs and Medical Consumables Supply Agency, the Hospitals Management Board and the Kano Centre for Disease Control.

The ministry also directed the programme’s Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, implementing partners and other stakeholders to report to its headquarters with approved work plans, distribution records, beneficiary lists and other relevant documents for verification.

“The Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, implementing partners and other relevant stakeholders are required to report to the ministry’s headquarters with all approved work plans, distribution records and candidate lists for verification and assessment,” the statement added.

The state government said the review was intended to strengthen transparency, accountability and service delivery rather than disrupt malaria control efforts.

“The Kano State Government remains committed to promoting transparency, accountability and the efficient utilisation of public resources in all health programmes. The ongoing review is aimed at strengthening programme delivery and ensuring that health interventions continue to benefit the people of Kano State effectively,” the statement said.