Atiku asks FG to publish Nigeria-US health agreement after Ghana’s rejection
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has called on the Federal Government to publish Nigeria’s health agreement with the United States following Ghana’s rejection of a proposed health pact with Washington.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the demand in a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, his campaign council’s director of strategic communication.
Nigeria signed a five-year health memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the US on December 19, 2025.
According to the Federal Ministry of Health, the agreement covers disease surveillance, health data systems and procedures involving pathogen samples.
The US is expected to provide nearly $2 billion in grants, while Nigeria has made health spending commitments projected to mobilise about $3 billion over five years.
Ghanaian President John Mahama recently disclosed that his government rejected a proposed US health compact over concerns about medical records, pathogen information, funding obligations and the inspection of imported medicines.
Atiku said Nigerians should be allowed to know whether provisions rejected by Ghana are contained in the agreement signed by Nigeria.
“That is precisely why the government must publish the full text. Nigerians should not have to guess what has been agreed in their name,” he said.
The former vice-president also said the financial commitments under the agreement should be assessed against the state of healthcare delivery in Nigeria, citing the country’s high maternal mortality rate.
“Every one of those deaths represents a woman whose family expected her to come home,” he said.
“This crisis did not begin under Tinubu, but he has had more than three years to show Nigerians how his government is making childbirth safer. Where are the results?”
Atiku also questioned how the Federal Government intends to meet its domestic funding commitments under the agreement when approved health projects have struggled to receive funding.
He cited comments by Ali Pate, coordinating minister of health and social welfare, who told lawmakers during his budget defence that only N36 million had been released from the N218 billion appropriated for capital projects and programmes at the ministry’s headquarters in 2025 at the time.
“A government that cannot release funds for approved health projects must explain how it intends to honour a multibillion-dollar commitment,” Atiku said.
“A signed partnership cannot staff a maternity ward, supply a hospital or save a woman in labour. Nigerians need to see the funding and the care.”
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