Former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has requested the Federal Government to release the full text of Nigeria's health agreement with the United States. This call was made through a statement issued by the Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, on Tuesday. Atiku's request comes in light of Ghanaian President John Mahama's disclosure that Ghana rejected a proposed health compact due to concerns over medical records, pathogen information, funding obligations, and inspection of imported medicines.
Nigeria signed a five-year health Memorandum of Understanding with the United States on 19 December 2025. The agreement covers disease surveillance, health data systems, and procedures involving pathogen samples. According to the Federal Ministry of Health, the United States is expected to provide nearly $2 billion in grants, while Nigeria has made health spending commitments projected to mobilise nearly $3 billion over five years. Atiku expressed concerns that Nigerians are unaware of the provisions in the agreement signed by President Tinubu.
Atiku questioned how the administration would fulfil domestic funding commitments, referencing a disclosure by the Minister of Health, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate. During his budget defence, Prof Pate revealed that only N36 million had been released from N218 billion appropriated for capital projects and programmes at the Ministry of Health headquarters in 2025. Atiku stated that a government that cannot release funds for approved health projects must explain how it intends to honour a multibillion-dollar commitment.
The former Vice President called on the Federal Government to publish the complete Memorandum of Understanding, together with related protocols, annexes, data-sharing arrangements, specimen-sharing agreements, and financial undertakings. He asked several critical questions, including whether Nigerians' medical information or pathogen samples can leave the country, who may access them, and what safeguards protect patients.
Atiku also inquired whether NAFDAC retains full authority to inspect medicines and medical products and what the Federal and state governments have promised to spend. He emphasised that Nigeria welcomes international cooperation that saves lives, but the government must be accountable for the terms it accepts and the results it delivers. This duty of disclosure also applies to other international commitments, including the partnership with France.
Atiku's concerns are underscored by the latest internationally comparable estimates, which put Nigeria's maternal deaths at 75,000 in 2023. He stressed that the commitments made in the agreement must be measured against the condition of healthcare at home. The former Vice President urged the government to be transparent about the terms of the agreement and its implementation.
The Nigeria-US health agreement aims to improve healthcare outcomes in Nigeria through enhanced disease surveillance, health data systems, and pathogen sample management. However, the lack of transparency surrounding the agreement's details has raised concerns among stakeholders, including Atiku Abubakar. The Federal Government's response to Atiku's request is yet to be seen.
Key points
- Atiku Abubakar calls for the publication of the Nigeria-US health agreement details.
- The agreement covers disease surveillance, health data systems, and procedures involving pathogen samples.
- Atiku questions the administration's ability to fulfil domestic funding commitments.
