No fewer than 24.47 million Nigerians were diagnosed with malaria 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. The report was obtained by our correspondent on Friday.
Data from the report revealed a steady rise in the number of people presenting with fever who were tested for malaria using Rapid Diagnostic Tests and microscopy over the three quarters.
The quarterly figures underscore a worrying upward trend in malaria cases nationwide.
Nigeria, which contributes significantly to the global malaria burden, continues to grapple with challenges such as delayed treatment-seeking behaviour and insufficient healthcare infrastructure, both of which intensify the impact of the disease.
The statistics also indicate that malaria cases tend to peak during the second half of the year, coinciding with the rainy season when mosquito breeding is most active.
Experts caution that without focused interventions, malaria incidence is likely to climb further before the end of 2025.
“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.
“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 noted.
The report further highlighted a corresponding increase in the number of people with uncomplicated malaria receiving Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy.
“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 received treatment during the nine-month period,” the report added.
Meanwhile, during the 2025 Joint Annual Review in Abuja, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, noted that the Malaria Control Programme under the National Malaria Eradication Programme has made significant progress.
