Kogi State launches mass distribution of insecticide treated nets

Governor Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo launched a mass distribution campaign for insecticide treated nets (ITNs) in Kogi State, Nigeria.

The initiative aims to provide mosquito nets to 1,130,935 households across 21 local government areas to combat malaria, which the governor identified as a major public health threat to children and pregnant women. The Malaria Consortium partnered with the Kogi State Government and the National Malaria Elimination Programme to procure approximately 4 million nets recommended by the World Health Organisation.

These nets contain pyrethroid and chlorfenapyr, chemicals designed to protect people even in areas where mosquitoes have developed resistance to older insecticides. The distribution period will run for eight days starting on 11 November 2026. The Malaria Consortium also appointed the First Lady, Hajia Sefinat Usman Ododo, as the Kogi State ITN Ambassador. In her role, she plans to mobilize women, families, and religious groups to ensure consistent use of the nets.

The government deployed 6,404 trained personnel to track every net and register every household to ensure transparency and prevent the nets from being sold or used for farming and fishing.