Updated: US, Nigeria strike landmark $5.1bn health deal, channel $200m to Christian-run clinics

The United States and Nigeria have signed a five-year bilateral health cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) valued at $5.1 billion, marking the largest co-investment by any country under the America First Global Health Strategy.

Under the agreement, the United States will provide about $2.1 billion in health assistance, while Nigeria will invest an additional $3.0 billion in new domestic health spending over the five-year period. The pact is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system, expanding access to lifesaving services and deepening bilateral cooperation between Washington and Abuja.

A statement by the US Mission in Nigeria and the US Department of State said the MoU is designed to improve access to essential preventive and curative health services, including interventions for HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, maternal and child health, and polio.

A major highlight of the agreement is the allocation of approximately $200 million in dedicated support for more than 900 Christian faith-based healthcare facilities across Nigeria. These facilities will receive funding to expand integrated health services, particularly in underserved and hard-to-reach communities.

Although Christian faith-based clinics account for about 10 per cent of healthcare providers in Nigeria, US officials noted that they serve more than 30 per cent of the country’s estimated 230 million people, making them a critical pillar of frontline healthcare delivery.

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

The agreement comes at a time when Nigeria faces severe public health challenges. The country has one of the highest maternal and child mortality rates globally and accounts for about 30 per cent of the world’s malaria burden. US officials said the partnership would help save lives while also protecting American interests by tackling infectious diseases with cross-border implications.

The MoU was negotiated within the context of reforms by the Nigerian government aimed at improving security and protecting vulnerable communities, including Christian populations. The US linked continued support under the agreement 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,” the statement said.

The US government also emphasised that the agreement remains subject to broader foreign policy considerations.

“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,” it added.

According to the State Department, the Nigeria agreement forms part of a wider push by the United States to sign multi-year bilateral health cooperation MoUs with dozens of countries receiving US health assistance in the coming weeks.