Stephen Musungu
Abuja — The United States and Nigeria have signed a five-year health cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system, with a particular focus on supporting Christian-run health facilities and improving access to essential medical services nationwide.
Under the agreement, the United States will provide nearly $2 billion in health assistance between 2026 and 2030 to support disease prevention, maternal and child health, and the treatment of major illnesses such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and polio. The funding will also be used to strengthen disease surveillance, laboratory systems and emergency response capacity across the country.
The Nigerian government, in turn, has committed to increasing domestic health financing by allocating a higher share of federal and state budgets to the health sector. Authorities say the additional funding will help expand primary healthcare services, modernise facilities and improve the availability of essential medicines, particularly in underserved communities.
Officials said the agreement recognises the role of faith-based health institutions, many of which are Christian-run, in delivering healthcare to millions of Nigerians. These facilities form a significant part of the country’s healthcare network, especially in rural and conflict-affected areas where access to public hospitals is limited.
The health pact comes amid broader reforms in Nigeria’s health sector focused on improving accountability, workforce capacity and service delivery. It also aligns with a shift in United States foreign health assistance toward bilateral agreements designed to promote sustainability and shared responsibility.
Both governments described the deal as a step toward building a more resilient health system and improving health outcomes across Nigeria, while reinforcing long-standing bilateral cooperation in public health and development.
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