The United States has approved nearly $2.1 billion in health funding for Nigeria under a new five-year bilateral agreement aimed at strengthening the country’s healthcare system, with a strong emphasis on supporting Christian faith-based health providers.
The agreement, signed on Saturday, commits the U.S. government—through the Department of State and in collaboration with Congress—to expanding access to essential preventive and curative health services, including HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, polio, as well as maternal and child healthcare.
Under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the Nigerian government is also expected to significantly scale up its domestic health spending, committing nearly $3 billion over the five-year period to complement U.S. investments.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, Thomas Pigott, described the agreement as the largest co-investment made by any country to date under the America First Global Health Strategy, a policy framework launched to promote sustainability and national interest–driven health assistance.
“This is the largest co-investment any country has undertaken under the America First Global Health Strategy,” Pigott said.
According to U.S. officials, the MoU was negotiated within the broader context of Nigeria’s ongoing reforms aimed at protecting Christian populations from violence. As part of the agreement, dedicated funding has been earmarked for Christian healthcare facilities, many of which operate in underserved and high-risk communities.
The funding is intended to complement the work of approximately 900 faith-based clinics and hospitals across Nigeria, which currently provide healthcare services to millions of citizens and form a critical component of the country’s health delivery network.
U.S. authorities said the investments are designed not only to expand service delivery but also to strengthen Nigeria’s overall health infrastructure, improve data systems, and enhance long-term self-reliance.
However, the U.S. government stressed that the funding comes with conditions. Pigott noted that the President and the Secretary of State reserve the right to pause or terminate any program that fails to align with U.S. national interests.
“The Trump Administration expects Nigeria to continue to make measurable progress in combating extremist religious violence, particularly against vulnerable Christian populations,” he added.
The agreement comes despite Nigeria’s continued designation by the United States as a Country of Particular Concern over religious freedom issues, as well as its recent inclusion on a U.S. travel restriction list. President Donald Trump had cited concerns over terrorism and visa overstay rates in justifying the designation.
The funding falls under the America First Global Health Strategy, released in September 2025, which covers dozens of countries worldwide. The strategy marks a shift in U.S. foreign health assistance toward self-reliance, accountability, data security, and targeted interventions against major public health challenges.
Priority areas under the strategy include HIV, TB, malaria, polio eradication, and maternal and child health, with an emphasis on measurable outcomes and shared financial responsibility between the U.S. and partner countries.
The new agreement signals a significant recalibration of U.S.–Nigeria health cooperation, blending large-scale funding with political, security, and faith-based considerations.