Nigeria is seeking to build on a sharp decline in malaria prevalence by increasing domestic health financing and reducing its reliance on external support, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, said.

Pate spoke in Abuja while receiving the Board of Trustees of Malaria Consortium, which visited the ministry to congratulate Nigeria on the reduction in malaria prevalence among children aged six to 59 months.

The prevalence rate fell from 42 per cent in 2010 to 15.2 per cent in 2025, according to Malaria Consortium.

Pate described the progress as evidence of the impact of sustained interventions and cooperation between the government and development partners.

He said the government would intensify efforts to reduce malaria further through improved diagnosis, access to affordable medicines, seasonal malaria chemoprevention, insecticide-treated bed nets and vaccination where available.

The minister also stressed the need for Nigeria to take greater responsibility for financing its health system.

While acknowledging the contribution of development partners, Pate said the long-term responsibility for protecting Nigerians’ health rested with the federal, state and local governments.

He urged state governments to channel increased revenues towards healthcare, arguing that stronger domestic financing would help make health programmes more sustainable.

Nigeria’s progress comes as the government implements a new National Malaria Strategic Plan for 2026-2030, designed to accelerate efforts to reduce transmission and move towards elimination. The Federal Ministry of Health said the strategy was developed against the backdrop of the decline in prevalence from 42 per cent in 2010 to 15 per cent in 2025.

Malaria Consortium, which has worked with Nigeria since 2008, has supported the delivery of seasonal malaria chemoprevention to more than 14 million children annually and has also supported the distribution of insecticide-treated nets and strengthening of malaria diagnosis and treatment.

The organisation’s recent work has also focused on strengthening malaria financing, surveillance and responses to drug resistance as donor funding and global health financing come under pressure.

Nigeria remains one of the countries carrying a heavy malaria burden, making the reduction in prevalence significant but leaving a substantial challenge for health authorities.

Pate said continued collaboration with organisations such as Malaria Consortium would remain important, but stressed that sustainable progress would ultimately depend on stronger domestic investment and resilient health systems.

The meeting also provided an opportunity for Malaria Consortium’s trustees to introduce newly appointed board members and reaffirm their partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.