Abuja: The United States Government has announced the signing of a $5.1 billion five-year bilateral healthcare Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nigeria. The agreement is part of the U.S. government’s ‘America First Global Health Strategy.’
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria issued a statement on its official X handle explaining that a significant component of the MoU includes a commitment of $200 million to fund 900 Christian healthcare centers across Nigeria. These Christian health facilities, particularly in hard-to-reach and underserved communities, play a critical role in healthcare delivery services in Nigeria.
The statement further elaborated that the broader MoU outlines substantial joint investments in Nigeria’s health sector beyond the faith-based component. The United States has pledged $2.1 billion in support, with Nigeria committing to invest $3 billion in new domestic health spending over the five-year period. This represents the largest co-investment by any country to date under the America First Global Health Strategy.
The agreement aims to deliver lasting benefits for both countries, especially as Nigeria faces significant public health challenges, including high maternal and child mortality rates and a large share of the global malaria burden. The U.S. assistance is expected to protect lives and strengthen the bilateral partnership between the two nations.
However, the statement noted that the agreement is subject to broader foreign policy considerations. The President and Secretary of State retain the right to pause or terminate any programs that do not align with national interests. The cooperation agreement is the largest co-investment made under the America First Global Health Strategy to date, and it comes in the wake of the termination of the USAID global aid program by the Trump administration.