Nigeria and the United States have signed a landmark technical Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in the health sector, enhancing national health security, and expanding access to quality primary healthcare services across the country.
The agreement, signed in Abuja on Friday, seek to deepen collaboration on the early detection, prevention and control of emerging, re-emerging and existing infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis, while supporting Nigeria’s drive toward a more resilient and self-reliant health system.
Under the MoU, both countries will work together to strengthen disease surveillance and outbreak response, improve laboratory systems and biosafety procedures for pathogen sample collection, transport, testing, storage and disposal, support frontline healthcare workers, strengthen health data systems, ensure access to essential health commodities, and provide strategic investments and technical assistance across the health sector.
The partnership also reflected Nigeria’s commitment to long-term health sector self-reliance. As part of this objective, Nigeria will progressively increase domestic health financing while external grant support is gradually reduced, signalling a shift toward sustainable, trade- and investment-based partnerships.
Over a five-year period from April 2026 to December 2030, the United States Government is expected to provide nearly US$2 billion in grant funding to support Nigeria’s health priorities. In parallel, Nigeria has committed to allocating at least six percent of executed annual Federal and State budgets to health, a move projected to mobilise almost US$3 billion in domestic health financing within the same period. This commitment has already been reflected in the Federal Government’s proposed 2026 Appropriation.
Speaking on the significance of the agreement, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, described the MoU as a major step toward safeguarding the health of Nigerians and strengthening national resilience.
He said the partnership underscored Nigeria’s determination to build a health system capable of preventing, detecting and responding to health threats, while expanding access to affordable, quality healthcare for all citizens. According to him, it also reflected the government’s commitment to domestic investment, accountability and long-term sustainability.
The MoU built on ongoing health sector reforms, including the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) launched in 2023 to improve healthcare accessibility, affordability, quality, accountability and efficiency. These reforms are being implemented through a Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) that aligns Federal, State and Local Governments, development partners, civil society and the private sector under a unified national plan, budget and reporting framework.
In December 2023, the reforms were further reinforced with the signing of the Health Sector Renewal Compact under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, bringing together all 36 State Governors, the Federal Capital Territory Administration and development partners in a shared commitment to building a unified, efficient and resilient health system.
The Federal Government expressed appreciation to the United States for its renewed partnership and shared commitment to advancing national and global health security, while reaffirming its resolve to deliver results that aligned with national priorities and improve health outcomes for all Nigerians.
