US President Donald Trump
United States (U.S) and Nigeria have entered a major health partnership following the signing of a $5.1 billion, five-year bilateral healthcare cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s health system and expanding access to lifesaving services.
The development was confirmed in a statement issued on Sunday by the U.S. Mission in Nigeria via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle. According to the statement, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is designed to advance the U.S. government’s America First Global Health Strategy while addressing some of Nigeria’s most pressing public health challenges.
A standout feature of the agreement is a $200 million commitment by the U.S. government to support more than 900 Christian faith-based healthcare facilities across Nigeria, many of which operate in hard-to-reach and underserved communities.
Explaining the rationale, the Mission noted that faith-based health institutions play an outsized role in healthcare delivery in the country, especially in rural areas where public health infrastructure remains limited.
“The United States signed a five-year, 5.1 billion dollars bilateral health cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Federal Republic of Nigeria to advance the America First Global Health Strategy,” the statement said.
“The MOU includes approximately 200 million dollars in dedicated support to more than 900 Christian faith-based healthcare facilities, expanding access to integrated HIV, TB, malaria, and maternal and child health services.
“Christian faith-based clinics represent about 10 per cent of providers in Nigeria but serve more than 30 per cent of Nigeria’s 230 million people, often in underserved areas,” it added.
Beyond faith-based healthcare, the agreement outlines broad joint investments across Nigeria’s health sector, with both countries committing substantial resources over the next five years.
The U.S. Mission stressed that the timing of the partnership is critical, given Nigeria’s ongoing struggle with maternal and child mortality and infectious diseases.
“With Nigeria facing one of the highest maternal and child mortality rates globally and accounting for 30 per cent of the global malaria burden, this U.S. assistance protects Nigerian and American lives while strengthening our bilateral partnership,” the statement said.
Under the MoU, the United States plans to provide $2.1 billion in health support, while Nigeria is expected to invest $3 billion in new domestic health spending within the same period.
“Under the MOU, the United States intends to provide 2.1 billion dollars in support, with Nigeria investing three billion dollars in new domestic health spending over five years — the largest co-investment by any country to date under the Strategy.
“This five-year MOU will strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system, save lives, and make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous,” it said.
However, the U.S. government noted that the agreement, like all foreign assistance programmes, remains subject to broader foreign policy considerations.
“With all foreign assistance, the President and Secretary of State retain the right to pause or terminate any programmes that do not align with the national interest,” the statement concluded.
