By Uloma Peace Okorie
A bill seeking the establishment of an agency dedicated to the total eradication of mosquitoes in Nigeria has passed its second reading in the Senate and now awaits third reading before it can be transmitted to the President for assent.
The sponsor of the bill, Senator Prince Dr. Ned Nwoko, disclosed this recently in Abuja. He reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to achieving a mosquito-free Nigeria, noting that the country has lost countless lives to mosquito-related diseases such as malaria, typhoid, and other deadly infections.
Senator Nwoko, who has been at the forefront of the nationwide anti-mosquito crusade, recalled with concern how families across the country continue to suffer illnesses and deaths caused by mosquito bites. According to him, the establishment of the agency will provide a coordinated national strategy for eradicating mosquitoes and reducing the burden of malaria and related diseases.
He expressed confidence that once the bill scales its third reading, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will give his assent, considering the dangerous impact mosquitoes have on public health and national productivity.
“I will be the happiest person to see this bill signed into law,” Senator Nwoko said, emphasizing that Nigeria deserves a future where citizens no longer live under the constant threat of mosquito-borne diseases.
The bill, if passed, is expected to mark a major milestone in Nigeria’s public health reforms and strengthen the nation’s fight against malaria one of its most persistent health challenges.