No fewer than 24.47 million Nigerians tested positive for malaria between January and September 2025, according to the 2025 National Health Statistics Report released by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
The report, obtained by our correspondent on Friday, shows a steady rise in the number of individuals who presented with fever and were tested using Rapid Diagnostic Tests and microscopy across the three quarters under review.
According to the data, 34.8 million Nigerians were tested for malaria within the nine-month period, with figures increasing each quarter and revealing a troubling upward trend in infections nationwide.
Nigeria, which contributes substantially to the global malaria burden, continues to grapple with factors such as late treatment-seeking habits and inadequate health infrastructure, both of which worsen the spread and impact of the disease.
Health analysts note that malaria cases typically surge in the second half of the year, coinciding with the rainy season when mosquito breeding intensifies. They warn that without urgent and targeted interventions, the number of cases could rise even further before the year ends.
Breakdown of the data shows that 10,517,416 Nigerians were tested between January and March, a figure that rose to 11,449,804 in the second quarter. By the third quarter (July–September), testing reached 12,878,508 individuals.
Of those tested, 7,301,279 Nigerians were confirmed positive in the first quarter, while 7,841,483 cases were recorded between April and June. Figures for the third quarter are expected to push the total number of confirmed cases even higher as authorities continue surveillance efforts.
