The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), in collaboration with Malaria Consortium, has inaugurated the 2026 insecticide-treated nets (ITN) campaign to prevent mosquito bites and combat malaria in the territory.

The inauguration on Saturday also featured the investiture of the Sarkin Bwari, Awwal Musa Ijakoro, as the FCT mosquito net distribution ambassador.

Speaking at the event, the Mandate Secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES), FCTA, Adedolapo Fasawe, said an estimated 282 million malaria cases were recorded globally in 2024, with Nigeria accounting for 68 million, representing 24.3 per cent of the burden.

She said Nigeria accounted for 30.3 per cent of global malaria-related deaths, particularly among children under five, citing figures from the 2024 World Malaria Report.

According to her, the Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey (NMIS) showed progress in reducing malaria prevalence, which declined from 22 per cent in 2021 to 15.3 per cent in 2025.

Ms Fasawe said that as of 2021, malaria prevalence in the FCT stood at 18.8 per cent, with rural communities recording high transmission rates and approximately 1.4 million cases annually.

“When we last measured, only about 22 per cent of our residents had access to an Insecticide Treated Net, and 14 per cent household slept inside an ITN. Those gaps are exactly what this campaign has come to close.

“Malaria prevalence in the FCT has come down to 7.9 per cent. That is a reduction of more than half, and it did not happen by accident. It happened because of the work of our health workers, our community structures, and our partners.

“This year in June, many of us were together in Durumi to inaugurate seasonal malaria chemoprevention for 1,015,240 children. Today we are adding the other half of the picture.

“Chemoprevention protects the child. The net protects the whole household, every night, while everyone sleeps.

“This is the FCT’s campaign. Malaria Consortium and our other partners are bringing technical support, nets and resources, and we are very grateful to them.

“But the leadership of this campaign, the decisions, and the accountability for results sit with the FCT Administration.

“The HSES, working through the FCT State Malaria Elimination Programme, has been in the room since the very first planning meeting, and we will be in the room until the last net is hung.

“This campaign is for the whole territory. From Abaji to Kwali, from Gwagwalada and Kuje to Bwari and AMAC, every household will be covered, whether it sits in a village, a settlement or an estate.

“Nobody is too far, and nobody is too small to count,” Ms Fasawe said.

She thanked the six FCT area council chairmen and their health teams for their involvement, urging them to remain committed until the exercise was completed.

She added that the FCTA would work with relevant security agencies to ensure adequate supervision and security during the distribution of the nets.

Also speaking, Kolawole Maxwell, West and Central Africa Programme Director, Malaria Consortium, said the Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey provided a clear measure of progress.

According to Mr Maxwell, malaria parasite prevalence among children aged six to 59 months in the FCT declined from 18.8 per cent in 2021 to 7.9 per cent in 2025, representing a reduction of almost 11 percentage points.

He said national prevalence also declined from 22.3 per cent to 15.2 per cent, representing a reduction of about seven percentage points, adding that the FCT’s prevalence was now roughly half the national level.

“This is the work of government, health workers, partners and families over many years, every one in the hall has played a part.

“But the same survey gave us a warning. Today, fewer than one in ten FCT household has enough nets for everyone in the home.

“That means the progress is real, but it is fragile. We must protect it, and we must build on it,” he said.

Mr Maxwell said that over the coming days, 4.9 million new nets would be distributed to households across the six area councils, covering 62 wards through approximately 1,580 distribution hubs.

Nnenna Ogbulafor, national coordinator, National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), said Nigeria had remained at the forefront of malaria prevention since 2009.

Ms Ogbulafor was represented by Philip Okoro, Director, PM-Impact/LLP Project of NMEP.

“With over 350 million ITNs distributed across the country, we have made significant progress in reducing malaria prevalence, with the steadfast support of partners and dedication of health workers.

“But still, the burden remain significant, and with a rapid growing population, we must prioritise innovations, strengthen community engagement, and deepen our partnerships, to improve ITN access for all household, and ultimately achieve Malaria elimination.

“It has been over a decade ITNs were distributed last through mass campaign in FCT. The first round of LLIN distribution was conducted in 2011. Since then, there have been no replacement campaign. Today, that story has changed.

“This year, we aim to distribute 4.8 million nets to household across the FCT.

“The support of the FCT leadership, the commitment of health workers, community leaders and our dedicated campaign personnel, will be instrumental in achieving widespread coverage, and in reducing malaria cases across communities,” Ms Ogbulafor said.

She said more than 350 million ITNs had been distributed nationwide, with support from partners and the commitment of health workers, contributing to efforts to reduce malaria prevalence.

In his acceptance speech, Mr Ijakoro pledged to take the campaign to all nooks and crannies of the FCT, urging households to cooperate with distribution teams whenever they visited their homes. 

(NAN)