Kogi to Distribute 3.7 Million Free Mosquito Nets to Households Across 21 LGAs

…Ododo targets reduction of malaria prevalence to below 2%

By Rotimi Odofin

The Kogi State Government is set to distribute more than 3.7 million Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) free of charge to households across the 21 Local Government Areas of the state as part of renewed efforts to reduce malaria prevalence and strengthen disease prevention.

The distribution exercise, scheduled for official flag-off on Saturday, November 7, 2026, will see the deployment of approximately 3.8 million mosquito nets, packaged in 76,000 bales, with each bale containing 50 nets, to communities across the state.

The Coordinating Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza, disclosed this on Monday, November 2, during an inspection of the consignment at the warehouse in Lokoja, where the nets are being prepared for transportation to the various local government areas.

The intervention is aimed at ensuring that households across Kogi State have access to the essential malaria prevention commodity, particularly vulnerable populations, including children under five and pregnant women.

The state government said the mass distribution was part of its sustained investment in malaria prevention and control, building on recent progress in reducing the burden of the disease.

Recall that the Kogi State Government had earlier announced that malaria prevalence among children under five declined significantly from 16 per cent in 2021 to 8.9 per cent in 2025, according to a recent study.

The government attributed the improvement to sustained interventions and the commitment of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s administration to strengthening healthcare delivery, expanding preventive services and improving access to essential health commodities.

Governor Ododo urged residents to take ownership of the intervention by ensuring that the nets are properly used and maintained to protect their families against mosquito bites and malaria infection.

He emphasised that the success of the exercise would depend not only on the distribution of the nets but also on their consistent use by households across the state.

The governor reaffirmed his administration’s determination to reduce malaria prevalence in Kogi State to below two per cent while ensuring quality, accessible, affordable and available healthcare services for residents.

The state government also expressed appreciation to the Malaria Consortium, the Federal Ministry of Health and other health development partners for their technical and operational support towards reducing malaria transmission and advancing the goal of malaria elimination in Nigeria.

Those who accompanied the Coordinating Commissioner during the warehouse inspection included the Director of Public Health, Dr. Akpa; State Malaria Elimination Programme Officer, Dr. Ake; Team Lead of the Kogi State Logistics Management Coordinating Unit, Pharmacist Rose; and members of the management team of the Malaria Consortium.

The government called on residents, community leaders and other stakeholders to support the distribution exercise and ensure that the mosquito nets reach their intended beneficiaries.