Nigeria Records 24.4 Million Malaria Cases in Nine Months

• A new Federal Ministry of Health report shows that over 24 million Nigerians tested positive for malaria between January and September 2025, reflecting a steady rise in cases across all three quarters.

No fewer than 24.47 million individuals tested positive for malaria in Nigeria in the first nine months of 2025, according to the 2025 National Health Statistics Report released by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and obtained by our correspondent on Friday.

The data shows a steady rise in the number of people who presented with fever symptoms and were tested for malaria using Rapid Diagnostic Tests and microscopy during the period under review. The figures, broken down by quarter, highlight a worrying upward trend in malaria cases across the country.

Nigeria, which accounts for a substantial share of global malaria infections, continues to face persistent challenges such as late treatment-seeking behaviour and inadequate healthcare infrastructure—factors that worsen the disease burden. The quarterly pattern also indicates that malaria incidence peaks during the second half of the year, in line with the rainy season when mosquito breeding intensifies.

Experts warn that without targeted interventions, malaria cases could rise even further before the end of 2025.

According to the report, “From January to March, approximately 10,517,416 Nigerians were tested. In the second quarter, from April to June, the number rose to about 11,449,804 Nigerians. By the third quarter, from July to September, testing reached 12,878,508 Nigerians. In total, over the nine-month period, 34,845,728 Nigerians were tested for malaria.”

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Of those tested, “those who were confirmed positive for malaria during the first quarter were 7,301,279. From April to June, approximately 7,841,483 individuals were confirmed positive. In the third quarter, from July to September, about 9,324,470 tested positive for malaria. This brings the cumulative total of confirmed malaria cases for the first three quarters of 2025 to 24,467,232.”

The report also notes that treatment for uncomplicated malaria rose in line with the surge in positive cases. “In the first quarter, approximately 7,144,538 individuals received treatment. In the second quarter, about 7,663,106 people were treated. By the third quarter, no fewer than 9,043,786 individuals received ACT therapy.”

Altogether, around 23,851,430 individuals were treated with Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy within the nine-month period.

Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, stated during the 2025 Joint Annual Review in Abuja that the Malaria Control Programme under the National Malaria Eradication Programme has recorded significant progress this year.