RismadarVoice Reporters
September 30, 2026
Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has called on the Federal Government to publish the full details of Nigeria’s health agreement with the United States following Ghana’s rejection of a proposed health compact with Washington.
Atiku’s demand followed comments by Ghanaian President John Mahama that his country rejected the proposed agreement after concerns were raised over medical records, pathogen information, funding obligations and the inspection of medicines and medical products.
In a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku questioned whether provisions that reportedly raised concerns in Ghana were also contained in Nigeria’s agreement.
He said Nigerians should be given access to the complete agreement to determine the obligations undertaken by the Federal Government.
Nigeria and the United States signed a five-year health Memorandum of Understanding on December 19, 2025.
The agreement, which runs from April 2026 to December 2030, covers disease surveillance and outbreak response, laboratory systems, biosafety procedures involving pathogen samples, health data systems, frontline healthcare workers and access to essential health commodities.
Under the arrangement, the United States is expected to provide nearly $2.1 billion in grants, while Nigeria has committed to increasing domestic health expenditure by nearly $3 billion over the five years
Atiku questioned the government’s ability to meet its financial commitments under the agreement, citing existing challenges in funding the country’s health sector.
He also asked the Federal Government to clarify whether Nigerian medical information or pathogen samples could be transferred outside the country, who could access such information and what safeguards had been established to protect patients.
The former vice president further sought clarification on the authority of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, to inspect medicines and medical products covered by the arrangement.
Atiku called for the publication of the complete MoU, including related protocols, annexes, data-sharing arrangements, specimen-sharing provisions and financial commitments.
He maintained that Nigeria should welcome international partnerships capable of improving healthcare but said such agreements should be accompanied by transparency and accountability.
The Federal Government has said the agreement is intended to strengthen Nigeria’s health security, expand primary healthcare and progressively increase domestic financing as the country reduces dependence on external health assistance.
Atiku also called for greater disclosure of the Federal Government’s other international agreements.
