By Seyi Gesinde
December 21, 2025
The United States has committed nearly $2.1 billion in health assistance to Nigeria under a $5.1 billion bilateral health cooperation Memorandum of Understanding signed with senior officials of the Federal Government.
The signing, which involved Ali Pate, Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Wale Edun, Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, and Richard M. Mills Jr., United States Ambassador to Nigeria, alongside senior officials from both countries, is intended to advance the America First Global Health Strategy by strengthening Nigeria’s health system, promoting resilience and self-reliance, and fostering accountability and shared responsibility.
The US Department of State highlighted the objectives of the MOU, emphasising support for Christian faith-based healthcare providers, the expansion of access to essential preventive and curative services, and the development of sustainable health infrastructure to serve millions of Nigerians.
In addition to the U.S. commitment, the Government of Nigeria will contribute approximately $3.0 billion in new domestic health expenditures over the same five-year period, marking the largest co-investment any country has made under the America First Global Health Strategy and signalling Nigeria’s increasing ownership of its health system.
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The MOU outlines sustained U.S. support for key health sectors, including disease surveillance, outbreak response, laboratory systems, health commodities, frontline healthcare workers, and data management systems, all critical for enhancing health outcomes and preparedness.
Nigeria continues to face significant health challenges, including one of the highest maternal and child mortality rates globally and approximately 30 percent of the global malaria burden, underscoring the urgency of targeted investments.
U.S. assistance under the agreement will expand access to preventive and curative services for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, polio, and maternal and child health, strengthening overall health outcomes and ensuring greater coverage across both urban and rural areas.
A central feature of the MOU is the support for Christian faith-based healthcare providers, recognising their vital role in reaching underserved communities. Nigeria’s more than 900 faith-based clinics and hospitals currently serve over 30 percent of the country’s 230 million population, often in regions where public healthcare infrastructure is limited or absent.
The agreement allocates approximately $200 million in dedicated support to enhance these facilities, increase workforce capacity, and expand integrated services for HIV, TB, malaria, and maternal and child health, complementing public-sector facilities and reinforcing the broader national health infrastructure.
The MOU was negotiated alongside Nigerian government reforms prioritising the protection of Christian populations from extremist violence, reflecting a commitment to safeguarding vulnerable communities while delivering critical health services.
The United States retains the authority to pause or terminate programs that do not align with national interests and expects Nigeria to continue measurable progress in addressing religiously motivated violence against Christian communities.
This five-year agreement forms part of a broader wave of health cooperation MOUs the United States is signing across Africa, demonstrating a commitment to multi-year bilateral agreements with partner countries.
These agreements aim to advance the America First Global Health Strategy by promoting shared responsibility, accountability, sustainable investment, and measurable health outcomes for millions of people.
