Nigeria, United States sign MoU to strengthen health security, primary care
By Kunle Sanni –
Nigeria and the United States have signed a landmark technical Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening health security, expanding access to quality primary healthcare, and advancing Nigeria’s long-term health sector self-reliance.
The agreement, signed on Friday, deepens bilateral cooperation in the prevention, early detection, and control of emerging, re-emerging, and existing infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. It also seeks to improve nationwide access to essential and affordable primary healthcare services.
Under the MoU, both countries will collaborate to strengthen disease surveillance and outbreak response systems, improve laboratory infrastructure and biosafety procedures, support frontline health workers, enhance health data systems, and ensure access to essential medical commodities. The partnership will also provide strategic investments and technical assistance across Nigeria’s health sector.
A key component of the agreement is Nigeria’s commitment to increasing domestic health financing as external grant support is gradually reduced, marking 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. This commitment is projected to mobilise nearly US$3 billion in domestic health financing over the same period and has already been reflected in the Federal Government’s proposed 2026 Appropriation.
Speaking on the agreement, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, described the MoU as a significant step toward strengthening Nigeria’s health system and national resilience.
“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. “It also reflects our firm commitment to domestic investment, accountability, and long-term sustainability.”
The MoU builds 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 that aligns federal, state, and local governments, development partners, civil society, and the private sector under a unified national framework.
