The Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to eradicating malaria, with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu declaring that the state “will not rest until malaria becomes history.”
The governor made the statement during the Mid-Term Review of the Pathway to Malaria Pre-Elimination in Lagos State, held at Eko Hotels, Victoria Island. The review brought together key national policymakers, international development partners, and private sector stakeholders to assess progress made under the Impact Project and a digital malaria surveillance initiative launched in March.
Sanwo-Olu announced that malaria prevalence in Lagos has dropped to around one percent, describing the achievement as a critical milestone on the road to full elimination.
“When we embarked on this initiative in March, our vision was clear, to transform Lagos from a high-burden malaria zone into one on the verge of elimination. Today, the data shows we are closer than ever,” the governor said.
“Lagos will not rest until malaria is history, not just for us, but as an example for Nigeria and Africa.”
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The governor highlighted the effectiveness of the newly introduced digital surveillance system, which integrates public and private hospitals, pharmacies, and patent medicine vendors into a unified platform for real-time malaria case tracking and reporting.
“For the first time, we now have a platform that makes malaria visible across the state,” he said. “Every Lagosian must have access to rapid testing and the right treatment at the point of need. No case should be left unreported or unattended.”
Sanwo-Olu also called on residents to take personal responsibility for malaria prevention by eliminating mosquito breeding grounds, seeking testing before treatment, and engaging with the formal healthcare system.
The Mid-Term Review marks a key checkpoint in Lagos State’s malaria elimination roadmap, with stakeholders reaffirming support for the state’s efforts and commending its use of data-driven strategies to combat the disease.
Lagos remains one of Nigeria’s most densely populated states, making sustained malaria control efforts vital to public health.
