According to Africanews.com, Nigeria has become the latest African country to reach an agreement with the United States aimed at strengthening its healthcare system, following the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
The five-year deal is designed to replace earlier USAID-backed arrangements. Under the agreement, Nigeria is expected to raise $2.9 billion to support priority health services, while the United States will contribute $2 billion.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Abuja on Friday, Nigeria’s Health Minister, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, said the memorandum of understanding (MOU) marks a key step in deepening cooperation between the two countries. He described the agreement as the result of months of renewed engagement and negotiations, aimed at improving health security and system resilience.
The deal includes support with a strong focus on Christian faith-based healthcare providers, despite Nigeria having a slightly majority Muslim population.
U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria Richard Mills Jr. said the MOU reflects the long-standing health partnership between the two nations and is intended to ensure that investments from both sides deliver lasting and sustainable impact.
Nigeria is one of at least nine African countries signing similar agreements after their health systems were hit by cuts to USAID funding. Other countries, including Rwanda, Uganda, and Eswatini, have entered comparable deals with Washington and have previously agreed to accept third-country deportees under the Trump administration.
According to the Washington-based Center for Global Development, these agreements combine reduced U.S. funding, high co-financing expectations, and a shift toward direct government-to-government assistance. The think tank noted that overall U.S. health spending under the deals is lower, with annual support falling by about 49 percent compared with 2024.