The Federal Government of Nigeria has entered into a five-year, $5.1 billion bilateral health cooperation agreement with the United States, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance the America First Global Health Strategy.
The partnership aims to strengthen Nigeria’s health system, making it resilient, self-reliant, and sustainable, while fostering accountability and shared responsibility between both countries.
According to the US Mission in Nigeria, the MOU aligns with reforms undertaken by the Nigerian government to prioritise the protection of Christian populations from extremist violence.
“Under this five-year agreement, the United States will provide nearly $2.1 billion in health assistance, complemented by almost $3 billion in new domestic health spending by Nigeria over the same period. This represents the largest co-investment by any country to date under the America First Global Health Strategy and highlights Nigeria’s commitment to national ownership of its health system,” the US Mission said in a statement on Sunday.
Health System Support
The MOU includes provisions for continued US support in health surveillance, outbreak response, laboratory systems, supply of health commodities, frontline healthcare workforce development, and strengthening of data systems.
Nigeria faces significant health challenges, including high maternal and child mortality rates and roughly 30 per cent of the global malaria burden. The agreement will expand access to preventive and curative services for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, polio, and maternal and child health, improving outcomes nationwide.
The partnership also emphasizes the role of Christian faith-based healthcare providers, which operate over 900 clinics and hospitals serving more than 30 per cent of Nigeria’s population, often in areas lacking adequate health facilities.
Dedicated Support for Faith-Based Facilities
Approximately $200 million of the MOU is earmarked specifically for strengthening Christian faith-based facilities, building workforce capacity, and expanding access to integrated services for HIV, TB, malaria, and maternal and child health. These investments are intended to complement public health facilities and bolster Nigeria’s overall health infrastructure.
As with all US foreign aid, the President and Secretary of State reserve the right to suspend or terminate programs that do not align with US national interests. The United States also expects Nigeria to continue making measurable progress in protecting Christian communities from religiously motivated violence.
The five-year MOU is part of a series of multi-year health cooperation agreements signed across Africa this month, all designed to advance the America First Global Health Strategy and strengthen partner countries’ health systems.
