Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on President Tinubu to publish the full text of Nigeria's health agreement with the United States. The agreement, signed on December 19, 2025, is a five-year Memorandum of Understanding that covers disease surveillance, health data systems, and procedures involving pathogen samples. Atiku's demand comes after President John Mahama of Ghana disclosed that his country rejected a proposed health compact with the US due to concerns over medical records, pathogen information, funding obligations, and inspection of imported medicines.
The Nigeria-US health agreement is expected to provide nearly $2 billion in grants from the US, while Nigeria has made health spending commitments projected to mobilize nearly $3 billion over five years. Atiku Abubakar questioned how the administration would fulfill its domestic funding commitments, given that approved health projects have struggled to receive funds. According to Health Minister Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, only ₦36 million had been released from the ₦218 billion appropriated for capital projects and programs at the Ministry of Health headquarters in 2025.
Atiku Abubakar expressed concerns about the condition of healthcare in Nigeria, citing the latest internationally comparable estimates that put Nigeria's maternal deaths at 75,000 in 2023, the highest total in the world. He emphasized that every one of those deaths represents a woman whose family expected her to come home. Atiku said that the crisis did not begin under Tinubu, but he has had more than three years to show Nigerians how his government is making childbirth safer.
Atiku Abubakar also questioned whether the provisions Ghana rejected are in the agreement Tinubu signed. He demanded that the government publish the full text of the agreement, together with every related protocol, annex, data-sharing arrangement, specimen-sharing agreement, and financial undertaking. Atiku said that Nigerians should not have to guess what has been agreed in their name.
The former Vice President raised concerns about the potential risks of the agreement, including the possibility that Nigerians' medical information or pathogen samples could leave the country. He asked who may access them, what safeguards protect patients, and whether NAFDAC retains full authority to inspect medicines and medical products. Atiku also questioned what exactly the Federal Government and the states have promised to spend.
Atiku Abubakar emphasized that Nigeria welcomes international cooperation that saves lives, but the government must be accountable for the terms it accepts and the results it delivers. He also called for disclosure of the administration's other international commitments, including its expanding partnership with France. Atiku said that Nigeria's sovereignty is not classified information.
In conclusion, Atiku Abubakar urged President Tinubu to put the documents before Nigerians and answer questions plainly. He said that a signed partnership cannot staff a maternity ward, supply a hospital, or save a woman in labor. Nigerians need to see the funding and the care. The government must prioritize transparency and accountability in its international commitments.
Key points
- Atiku Abubakar demands publication of Nigeria-US health agreement
- Nigeria's maternal deaths were 75,000 in 2023, the highest in the world
- The US is expected to provide nearly $2 billion in grants for Nigeria's health sector
