Over 900 Christian faith-based healthcare facilities to benefit from US, Nigeria $5.1bn health cooperation agreement

The United States and Nigeria have signed a five-year bilateral health cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) valued at $5.1 billion, aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system and expanding access to essential health services.

SolaceBase reports that under the agreement, the United States intends to provide $2.1 billion in health support, while Nigeria will invest $3.0 billion in new domestic health spending over the five-year period.

The arrangement represents the largest co-investment by any country under the America First Global Health Strategy.

In a statement on the agreement, the United States said the MoU would “strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system, save lives, and make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous.”

It explained that the partnership is designed to improve health outcomes while reinforcing long-term system resilience in Nigeria.

A key component of the agreement includes approximately $200 million in dedicated support for more than 900 Christian faith-based healthcare facilities across the country.

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According to the statement, the funding is intended to expand access to integrated HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, as well as maternal and child health services, particularly in underserved communities.

Christian faith-based clinics account for about 10 per cent of healthcare providers in Nigeria but serve more than 30 per cent of the country’s estimated 230 million people, often in hard-to-reach areas.

The United States noted that strengthening these facilities would help close critical gaps in service delivery.

The agreement comes as Nigeria continues to face major public health challenges, including one of the highest maternal and child mortality rates globally and an estimated 30 per cent of the global malaria burden.

The United States said the health cooperation framework is intended to address these challenges through sustained investment and coordinated interventions.

Both countries said the MoU underscores the importance of bilateral collaboration in advancing global health priorities and strengthening healthcare systems.