US, Nigeria sign five-year health pact focusing on faith-based healthcare providers

The United States has signed a five year bilateral health memorandum of understanding with Nigeria to strengthen the country’s health system, with a strong focus on supporting Christian faith based healthcare providers.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the US Department of State said the agreement is expected to expand access to essential preventive and curative health services across Nigeria. These include interventions for HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, maternal and child health, and polio.

Under the terms of the MoU, the US government said it plans to commit nearly 2.1 billion dollars over a five year period. Nigeria, on its part, is expected to significantly increase domestic health spending.

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“Additionally, Nigeria will increase its domestic health expenditures by nearly 3 billion dollars during the term of the MoU, the largest co investment any country has made to date under the America First Global Health Strategy,” the statement said.

The agreement places special emphasis on faith based health institutions, particularly those run by Christian organisations, which play a major role in healthcare delivery across the country.

According to the statement, “Nigeria’s 900 faith based clinics and hospitals currently serve more than 30 percent of Nigerians,” noting that investments in these facilities are “uniquely positioned to complement efforts in public run facilities and strengthen Nigeria’s overall health infrastructure.”

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The MoU was negotiated in the context of reforms introduced by the Nigerian government, which the US said are aimed at protecting Christian communities from violence.

The statement also linked continued US health support to Nigeria’s progress in addressing religiously motivated violence. “The Trump Administration expects Nigeria to continue to make progress ensuring that it combats extremist religious violence against vulnerable Christian populations,” it said.

The US government added that the agreement remains subject to its broader foreign policy priorities. “As with all foreign assistance, the President and Secretary of State retain the right to pause or terminate any programs which do not align with the national interest,” the statement noted.

It further said the United States remains committed to signing multi year bilateral health cooperation agreements with dozens of countries receiving US health assistance in the coming weeks.