The United States has entered into a new five-year bilateral health agreement with Nigeria aimed at strengthening the country’s health system, including expanded support for faith-based healthcare providers.
The agreement, a Memorandum of Understanding signed on December 20, will see the United States commit nearly $2.1bn to support programmes targeting HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, maternal and child health, and polio, according to the US Department of State.
Nigeria, under the terms of the pact, is expected to raise its domestic health spending by almost $3bn over the duration of the agreement, a level of funding the State Department described as the largest co-investment made by any country under the America First Global Health Strategy.
The deal was announced on Saturday by the department’s Principal Deputy Spokesperson, Thomas Pigott, who said the agreement is intended to reinforce Nigeria’s health infrastructure while expanding access to preventive and curative services.
In a statement, the State Department said the agreement places particular emphasis on supporting Christian faith-based healthcare providers. It added that the MoU was negotiated alongside recent reforms by the Nigerian government aimed at protecting Christian communities from violence.
Under the arrangement, specific funding will be directed to Christian healthcare facilities, especially those providing integrated services for infectious diseases as well as maternal and child health.
Nigeria currently has an estimated 900 faith-based clinics and hospitals, which US officials say serve more than 30 per cent of the population. Investments in these facilities, the department noted, are expected to complement public healthcare services and contribute to broader improvements in the country’s health system.
The State Department also stressed that US assistance under the agreement remains subject to review, noting that the President and Secretary of State retain the authority to pause or terminate programmes that do not align with US national interests.
The signing of the MoU comes amid increased US scrutiny of Nigeria, including recent travel restrictions introduced by the Donald Trump administration over national security and visa overstay concerns.
The America First Global Health Strategy, released in September 2025, governs US health assistance to partner countries and prioritises bilateral agreements, greater financial commitments from recipient nations, and intensified efforts to combat major diseases while strengthening national health systems.
