The United States and Nigeria have signed a five-year bilateral health agreement aimed at strengthening the country’s health system, with a focus on expanding faith-based healthcare services. The Memorandum of Understanding, signed on Saturday, commits nearly $2.1 billion in US funding to support prevention and treatment programs for HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, maternal and child health, and polio.
According to the US Department of State, Nigeria is expected to increase its domestic health spending by nearly $3 billion over the life of the agreement. This commitment represents the largest co-investment any country has made to date under the America First Global Health Strategy. The agreement is part of the US government’s efforts to support global health initiatives, with a focus on strengthening national health systems and combating priority diseases.
The MOU is tied to recent reforms by the Nigerian government aimed at protecting Christian communities from violence. As part of the agreement, dedicated funding will be allocated to Christian healthcare facilities, particularly those offering integrated services for infectious diseases and maternal and child health. Nigeria currently has about 900 faith-based clinics and hospitals, which serve more than 30 percent of the population.
US officials said investment in these facilities is intended to complement public healthcare services and improve the country’s overall health infrastructure. The Department of State emphasized that US assistance remains subject to review, with the President and Secretary of State retaining the right to pause or terminate any programs that do not align with the national interest.
The agreement was signed amid heightened US scrutiny of Nigeria, including recent travel restrictions imposed by the Donald Trump administration. The America First Global Health Strategy, released in 2025, applies to countries receiving US health assistance and shifts US global health policy toward bilateral agreements, increased partner-country co-investment, and expanded efforts to combat HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, and other priority diseases.
The signing of the MOU marks a significant development in the US-Nigeria partnership on global health issues. The agreement is expected to have a positive impact on Nigeria’s health system, particularly in the areas of faith-based healthcare services. With the commitment of nearly $2.1 billion in US funding and Nigeria’s increased domestic health spending, the country is poised to make significant progress in combating priority diseases and strengthening its overall health infrastructure.
