The Federal Government and the United States have signed a new technical Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening health security, expanding access to primary healthcare and promoting self-reliance in Nigeria’s health sector.
This was disclosed in a statement on Friday by the Director of Press and Public Relations to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Alaba Balogun.
The agreement, signed in Abuja, is expected to deepen bilateral cooperation in the early detection, prevention and control of infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, while improving access to quality primary healthcare services nationwide.
Under the MoU, both countries will collaborate to strengthen disease surveillance and outbreak response, improve laboratory systems and biosafety procedures, support frontline healthcare workers, strengthen data systems and ensure access to essential health commodities.
The statement noted that the agreement reflects Nigeria’s commitment to long-term sustainability in the health sector, with plans to progressively increase domestic health financing while external grant support is gradually reduced.
According to the statement, over a five-year period from April 2026 to December 2030, the United States Government is expected to provide nearly $2bn in grant funding to support Nigeria’s health priorities.
It added that Nigeria has committed to allocating at least six per cent of executed annual Federal and State budgets to health, a move projected to mobilise about $3bn in domestic health financing over 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, Muhammad Ali Pate, said the partnership would strengthen the country’s capacity to prevent, detect and respond to health threats while expanding access to affordable and quality healthcare.
“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,” Pate said.
The MoU builds on ongoing reforms in the health sector, including the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative launched in 2023 and reinforced by the Health Sector Renewal Compact signed under the leadership of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Federal Government expressed appreciation to the United States of America for its continued support and reaffirmed its commitment to improving health outcomes for Nigerians.
