The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has revealed that more than 24 million Nigerians tested positive for malaria between January and September 2025, reflecting a steady rise in infections across the country.

Figures contained in the 2025 National Health Statistics Report, obtained by DAILY GAZETTE, show consistent increases in both testing and confirmed cases over the three quarters.

According to the document, 10,517,416 people underwent malaria testing between January and March, with 7,301,279 found to be positive.

Testing rose further in the second quarter to 11,449,804 individuals, producing 7,841,483 confirmed cases.

The trend peaked between July and September when 12,878,508 Nigerians were tested and 9,324,470 were diagnosed with malaria.

Altogether, the nation recorded 24,467,232 cases within nine months.

Health analysts note that the surge aligns with Nigeria’s seasonal malaria pattern, particularly during the rainy months when mosquito breeding intensifies.

Experts warn that without stronger interventions, infection numbers could climb even higher before the end of the year.

Treatment numbers also followed an upward curve. In the first quarter, 7,144,538 patients received Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT).

This increased to 7,663,106 in the second quarter and 9,043,786 in the third, bringing the total number of treated persons to 23,851,430.

Speaking at the 2025 Joint Annual Review in Abuja, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, said the National Malaria Eradication Programme has continued to strengthen malaria-control strategies but acknowledged that challenges remain.

Delays in seeking treatment and infrastructural gaps across the healthcare system still contribute significantly to the country’s heavy malaria burden.

The report calls for sustained public health action, improved access to treatment, and greater community involvement if Nigeria is to reduce malaria incidence in the coming years.

In related developments, world leaders have pledged $11.34 billion to support the Global Fund’s fight against AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, a figure that falls below the organisation’s $18 billion target for the 2027–2029 cycle.

The announcement was made during the Global Fund’s Eighth Replenishment Summit in Johannesburg, held ahead of the G20 meeting.

Executive Director Peter Sands admitted that the shortfall presents challenges to global health financing.

“Money will be tight, so we must be smarter,” he said, stressing the need for countries to transition towards greater self-reliance while warning that abrupt funding cuts could jeopardize essential programmes.

The Fund plans to reduce operational costs by 20 percent in 2026.

The United States remains the largest contributor with a pledge of $4.6 billion, although some commitments from previous administrations are yet to be fully released.

Based in Geneva, the Global Fund cautioned that the funding gap could force reductions to existing grants through late 2026.

Since its creation in 2002, the organisation estimates that it has helped save around 70 million lives by supporting national efforts to combat infectious diseases through measures such as malaria nets, HIV treatment, and tuberculosis therapy.

Previous replenishment cycles have also struggled to meet targets — in 2022, the organisation raised $15.7 billion out of a projected $18 billion.

The summit highlighted the ongoing tension between dwindling global contributions and growing expectations for countries to scale up domestic healthcare investments.

The Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke-Isegun, in Eruku, Kwara State, held its first service on Sunday, five days after a deadly bandit attack left three worshippers dead and 38 others abducted.

Church leaders described the service as an act of faith and resilience amid lingering fear and trauma.

During the ceremony, the Church Secretary, Michael Agbabiaka, confirmed that 38 people were still in captivity.

“Initially, we compiled 35 names, but a verification exercise identified three additional non-members who were also kidnapped during the attack,” he said.

Agbabiaka also clarified that reports suggesting over 60 people were abducted were inaccurate.

He disclosed that the bandits originally demanded a ransom of ₦100 million per victim, which was later negotiated down to ₦20 million before communication with the abductors broke off on November 21.

Presiding Pastor Bamidele Lawrence described the attack as a test of faith and reassured the congregation that God had promised the safe return of the abducted worshippers, likening their ordeal to the biblical trials of the Israelites.

A worshipper, James Ige, whose wife and son were among those kidnapped, appealed to security agencies to intensify rescue efforts, emphasizing that his family’s fate rests on prompt government action.

Security has been heightened across Eruku, with deployments from the army, the Special Tactical Squad (SWAT) from Force Headquarters, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Kwara Police Command, and local vigilantes.

This follows directives from President Bola Tinubu mandating joint operations to track the attackers and secure the victims’ release.

Eyewitnesses recounted that the bandits, heavily armed, attacked the church around nightfall, causing panic among residents and forcing many to flee to nearby bushes for safety.

Two individuals were killed instantly during the attack.

Despite the trauma, the church urged members to attend Sunday’s service as a show of faith, while prayers were offered for the safe return of the abducted worshippers and the repose of the deceased.

SP Daniel Ndukwe,

The Enugu State Police Command has firmly denied reports that female officers were asked to contribute money for the 70th Nigeria Women Police Anniversary celebration.

The Command described the allegations, which appeared on Sahara Reporters, as “entirely false, baseless, and without any iota of truth.”

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, clarified that at no point did the Command issue such a directive to any officer, whether senior or junior.

He emphasized that the Nigeria Police Force has standardized procedures for issuing official orders and directives, and the purported message did not follow these established channels.

For clarity, SP Ndukwe said:

“The format and platform through which the alleged directive circulated clearly indicate that it did not originate from the Enugu State Command.”

Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, has called on the public to disregard the claims.

He has directed the State Intelligence Department (SID) to carry out a thorough investigation to identify those behind the circulation of the misleading information.

CP Giwa further urged any female officer who may have made payments in response to the purported message to come forward and assist with the ongoing probe.

The Command reiterated its commitment to transparency and adherence to official procedures, emphasizing that all directives are issued through proper, verifiable channels.

Former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, has raised alarm over a troubling trend in the recent mass abductions across northern Nigeria, suggesting that bandits may be kidnapping children and villagers to shield themselves from potential international military action.

Speaking on Saturday during a reception in Abuja held in honour of the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who was recently appointed Chairman of the World Customs Organisation, Gana warned that the surge in kidnappings may be strategic.

The event also doubled as a fundraising dinner for the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).

Gana linked the pattern of attacks to reactions within bandit groups following remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who criticised rising violence in Nigeria and hinted that the United States might intervene militarily if the situation deteriorates further.

According to him, emerging intelligence suggests that the criminals now believe they may be targeted by airstrikes, prompting them to seize schoolchildren and residents in forested areas that could serve as defensive zones.

His concerns come amid a spike in mass kidnappings.

Within the past week, gunmen abducted 25 female students from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, while another 315 students, teachers, and pupils were taken from St. Mary’s Private School in Papiri, Agwara, Niger State. Similar attacks have also been reported in Zamfara.

Gana said he received a phone call shortly before Saturday’s ceremony, reinforcing these fears.

His words: “It should become extremely worrying, especially for elders, statesmen, and fathers of the nation, to see younger ones being abducted here and there in various parts of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Somebody phoned me just before I came here to say that it would appear that the bandits and others who are causing this trouble are taking the threat from the President of the United States seriously.

“Therefore, it would appear that they are now mobilising human shields to protect them from wherever they are. In various places, they are just going ahead to pick up young people. And it would appear that maybe that person really has a point.

“Therefore, those of you who are very close to security agencies here should tell them they (bandits) know that they are being targeted.

“Their fear is that they are going to be targeted from the air and therefore felt the need to grab a few people to be human shields. In that, they would also fail. But those of you in security should kindly help us because I think there is tremendous wisdom in what that person has said.

“This is because if you look at the geography of the places they are now, most of the areas are close to forests if you see the location. I’m a geographer and I have seen that many of the areas they are picking people to hide are in those forests and they know they’ll be targeted.”

Gana urged security agencies to immediately investigate the pattern and advised the Federal Government to deepen collaboration with international partners to curb the escalating crisis.

He said: “I think the Nigerian government will need all the wisdom to liaise with whoever can help us. They don’t have to really come to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Technology has gone to a point where you can be targeted from the air. And I think these people need to be targeted now from the air.”

Responding, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, noted that the kidnappings have gained global attention, with international media constantly requesting updates.

He stressed that the government’s primary concern is the safe recovery of the abducted victims.

He said foreign media outlets had already contacted him for confirmation of casualty figures from the Agwara abduction, but he assured them that security forces were working to ensure the students’ rescue, saying:

“My response to them is that while we are counting those who are kidnapped, I’m telling them that by God’s grace, we are already working for them to get released. And they will be released in God’s name very, very soon.”

Idris also rejected claims that insecurity is confined to a particular region, adding that Nigeria’s macroeconomic indicators are improving, including GDP growth, declining inflation, and rising investor confidence.

He cautioned citizens against portraying the country negatively on the international stage.

Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, praised the Customs boss Bashir Adewale Adeniyi for his leadership and his new role as World Customs Organisation chairman, describing it as proof of Nigeria’s reform success.

NIPR President, Dr. Ike Neliaku, commended Adeniyi’s humility and dedication, noting that he initially resisted public celebrations before finally agreeing to attend the event.

Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah’s promise to deliver 15,000 housing units for civil servants by 2026 stands as one of the most socially meaningful commitments of his administration.

In a nation where affordable housing has remained out of reach for millions, this singular initiative has the potential to reshape not only the physical landscape of Enugu State but also its social and economic fabric.

At its core, the scheme is an act of magnanimity and an intentional intervention aimed at easing the cost of shelter, which is one of the heaviest burdens borne by workers and low-income families.

For years, Enugu City has witnessed a steady rise in rent prices, driven largely by limited housing supply compared to the expanding population.

This has pushed many poor and middle-class families to the outskirts, away from their workplaces, opportunities, and the social life of the city.

By injecting 15,000 new housing units into the system, Mbah is effectively tackling the problem at its root, supply.

When housing supply expands significantly, the ripple effect is unmistakable.

Rent prices naturally begin to decline. More available homes mean landlords can no longer arbitrarily hike prices because tenants now have choices.

The city becomes more competitive, fairer, and more accessible.

For the poor and indigent who have long been priced out of central Enugu, this development could very well be their ticket back into the urban space, restoring their dignity, reducing their transportation costs, and giving their children better access to schools, healthcare, and opportunities.

But beyond the economic benefits, Governor Mbah’s housing programme speaks to a deeper philosophy of governance, a governance that sees, cares, and responds.

Providing affordable homes for civil servants is not merely an infrastructural achievement; it is an expression of compassion and social responsibility.

Mbah understands that poverty is not just the absence of money; it is also the absence of stability.

A family that has secure housing can plan, work, and dream.

A worker who sleeps in a safe environment will wake up more motivated and productive. A child living in a comfortable home is far more likely to thrive.

This is why the 15,000-unit scheme is not just a government project; it is a social equaliser.

Through this initiative, the governor demonstrates a genuine sensitivity to the plight of the less privileged.

He is not beautifying Enugu at the expense of the poor. He is lifting the poor so they too can enjoy the emerging beauty of the Coal City.

Housing is not a luxury, it is a right, and Mbah’s approach aligns with that conviction.

The overall impact on society will be transformative.

Job creation during construction, improved urban planning, healthier communities, and a reduction in slum expansion are just a few of the long-term benefits.

As the city grows, it will grow with its people, not at their expense.

In conclusion, as Enugu marches toward its rebirth, the general public must rally behind Governor Mbah’s efforts.

Reviving the glory of the Coal City is not the responsibility of government alone, but it is a collective mission. With initiatives like these, it is clear that beauty can be restored without suffocating the poor.

The people of Enugu should, therefore, support and encourage this vision, a vision that seeks to build not just structures but lives, dignity, and hope.

Indeed, Tomorrow is Here