Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abuja, Nigeria — The United States Government and the Federal Republic of Nigeria have signed a landmark five-year bilateral health cooperation agreement designed to strengthen Nigeria’s health system, expand access to essential care, and support faith-based healthcare providers across the country. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), concluded on December 20, 2025, marks one of the most substantial U.S. investments in Nigeria’s health sector in recent years.
Under the terms of the agreement, the United States is expected to provide nearly US $2 billion in grant funding between April 2026 and December 2030 to support a wide range of health priorities, including prevention and control of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, polio, and maternal and child health services. In parallel, Nigeria has pledged to increase its domestic health spending, committing at least six per cent of its executed annual federal and state budgets to health, with an estimated $3 billion in additional domestic financing over the same period.
The MoU emphasises strengthening health security and building a resilient primary healthcare system capable of detecting and responding to emerging, re-emerging and existing health threats. Key areas of cooperation include disease surveillance enhancement, outbreak response systems, laboratory capacity and biosafety improvements, support for frontline health workers, and ensuring access to essential health commodities and data systems nationwide.
A unique aspect of the partnership is its focus on faith-based healthcare providers, particularly those affiliated with Christian organisations, which constitute a significant portion of Nigeria’s health infrastructure. U.S. officials highlighted that many faith-based clinics and hospitals — more than 900 facilities nationwide — serve a substantial number of Nigerians, particularly in rural and underserved areas. The agreement includes provisions to channel specific funding to these institutions as partners in expanding integrated care for infectious diseases and maternal and child health, complementing existing government health services.
The pact is part of the America First Global Health Strategy, under which the United States seeks to pursue bilateral health partnerships that support self-reliance, effective disease prevention, and sustainable healthcare delivery. U.S. authorities framed the deal as both a reflection of longstanding cooperation between the countries and a forward-looking approach to global health investment, while underscoring conditions that link continued support to mutual interests and progress.
Officials from both governments described the agreement as timely and strategic, coming at a moment when Nigeria is actively reforming its health sector through initiatives such as the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and increased budgetary focus on health. Nigerian health authorities have welcomed the pact as a major step toward reducing reliance on external assistance over time and promoting sustainable, trade- and investment-driven partnerships that enhance national health outcomes.
The collaboration underscores shared priorities in tackling major public health challenges and reflects a renewed commitment to strengthening bilateral ties. Authorities say the pact will help establish resilient systems capable of delivering quality care to millions of Nigerians, improving overall health security and contributing to broader development goals.
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