WMD: Experts blame poor environmental management, policy gaps for persistent malaria burden
Decades of poor environmental management and weak policy responses have continued to sustain malaria transmission in Nigeria, health and environmental experts have said. The warning came as the world marked
Decades of poor environmental management and weak policy responses have continued to sustain malaria transmission in Nigeria, health and environmental experts have said.
The warning came as the world marked World Malaria Day 2026, with stakeholders describing Nigeria as the epicentre of a largely preventable disease.
Campaigners under the #EndMalariaInNigeria initiative said the country accounts for more than 30 per cent of global malaria deaths, reinforcing its position as the nation with the highest burden worldwide.
They added that Nigeria contributes nearly a quarter of global malaria cases, attributing the situation to what they described as “65 years of failure” in leadership, planning, and political will.
Convener of the campaign, Francis Nwapa, said Nigeria has operated without a clear and measurable malaria elimination roadmap since independence, relying largely on reactive interventions and donor-driven programmes.
He identified systemic challenges including underfunded research institutions, poor urban planning, weak drainage systems, and the absence of sustained environmental sanitation, all of which, he noted, have created ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes.
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“This is not just a health crisis; it is a governance failure that continues to trap millions in poverty,” he said.
The economic toll, he added, remains severe, with households spending significant income on treatment, while the disease fuels school absenteeism, loss of productivity and pressure on already overstretched health facilities.
Corroborating these concerns, the African Pest Control Association said Africa bears about 95 per cent of global malaria cases and deaths, describing the situation as an “environmental failure” driven by unchecked mosquito breeding sites.
The association said there were about 282 million malaria cases globally in 2024, with over 610,000 deaths, out of which Africa recorded about 579,000. It noted that children under five account for about 76 per cent of malaria deaths on the continent.
APCA President, Innocent Onjeh, identified stagnant water, blocked drainage systems, unplanned settlements, waste dumps and flood-prone environments as the major drivers of transmission.
“The continued existence of these breeding spaces across African communities remains the single greatest factor sustaining malaria. Until this is addressed, the disease will persist,” he said.
He stressed that the malaria crisis should no longer be seen solely as a medical issue, but as a direct consequence of poor environmental governance.
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Both groups criticised the over-reliance on insecticide-treated mosquito nets, arguing that prevailing living conditions in Nigeria make their consistent use difficult.
They noted that unreliable electricity, overcrowded housing and poor ventilation have made sleeping under mosquito nets uncomfortable for many families, limiting their effectiveness.
Instead, experts called for a shift toward preventive strategies anchored on environmental management, including proper waste disposal, functional drainage systems, engineered landfills and continuous sanitation practices.
They also advocated integrated vector management combining environmental control, biological methods and safe chemical use, alongside stronger public awareness campaigns.
APCA pointed to countries such as Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Mauritius, Seychelles and Cabo Verde as examples of successful malaria elimination through strong political commitment, sustained funding and strict environmental control measures.
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The association urged Nigeria and other high-burden countries to adopt similar approaches, emphasising that malaria elimination is achievable with deliberate policy action.
Stakeholders called on the Nigerian government to urgently develop a national malaria elimination roadmap with clear timelines, invest in environmental health infrastructure and strengthen local government sanitation systems.
They also urged authorities to revive local research institutions, improve housing standards, expand electricity access and end medical tourism among public officials.
“Malaria is preventable and eliminable, but only if we move from rhetoric to action,” Nwapa said.
Experts warned that unless Nigeria prioritises prevention by eliminating mosquito breeding sites and strengthening environmental health systems, the country will continue to record avoidable deaths despite decades of intervention.
