The Federal Government of Nigeria and the United States Government have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen bilateral health cooperation, strengthen health security and build a more resilient, self-reliant healthcare system for Nigerians.
The technical agreement, signed in Abuja, aims to enhance early detection, prevention and control of emerging and re-emerging diseases including HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis, while significantly expanding access to quality primary healthcare services nationwide.
According to a statement signed by Alaba Balogun, Director of Press and Public Relations on behalf of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, the MoU will strengthen disease surveillance and outbreak response; improve laboratory systems and biosafety; enhance data systems; ensure access to essential health commodities; and provide strategic technical and financial support across the health sector. It will also support frontline health workers and reinforce national health infrastructure.
A key highlight of the agreement is Nigeria’s commitment to advancing health sector self-reliance. Under the MoU, Nigeria will progressively boost domestic health financing while the U.S. Government will provide phased grant support to aid the transition toward sustainable, investment-driven partnerships.
Over a five-year period from April 2026 to December 2030, the United States is expected to provide nearly US$2 billion in grant funding to support Nigeria’s healthcare priorities. In parallel, Nigeria has committed to allocate at least six percent of executed annual Federal and State budgets to health — a move projected to mobilise nearly US$3 billion in domestic financing over the same period. This commitment has already been reflected in the proposed 2026 Federal Appropriation.
Speaking on the significance of the agreement, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, described the pact as a major milestone for Nigeria’s health security and system resilience.
“This partnership underscores our determination to build a health system that can prevent, detect, and respond to health threats, while expanding access to affordable, quality care for all Nigerians. It also reflects our firm commitment to domestic investment, accountability, and long-term sustainability,” he said.
The agreement builds on Nigeria’s ongoing health sector reforms under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) launched in 2023 to improve accessibility, affordability, quality and accountability in healthcare delivery through a Sector-Wide Approach aligning Federal, State, Local Governments and development partners under a unified national framework.
It also reinforces commitments made under the Health Sector Renewal Compact signed in December 2023 under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which brought together all 36 State Governors, the FCT Administration and development partners in a collective pledge to build a unified and resilient health system.
The Federal Government expressed appreciation to the United States Government and development partners for their continued collaboration and reaffirmed its commitment to delivering measurable improvements in health outcomes for Nigerians.
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