Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has demanded the immediate publication of Nigeria’s health agreement with the United States.
Mr Atiku made the demand in a statement issued on Tuesday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council.
The presidential candidate said the demand followed Ghanaian President John Mahama’s disclosure that his country rejected a proposed health compact over concerns about medical records, pathogen samples, funding obligations and inspection of imported medicines.
He said Nigerians needed to know whether provisions rejected by Ghana were contained in the agreement signed by the Nigerian government.
“At this point, Nigerians do not know whether the provisions Ghana rejected are in the agreement Tinubu signed,” Atiku said.
“That is precisely why the government must publish the full text. Nigerians should not have to guess what has been agreed in their name.”
Nigeria signed a five-year health Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the United States on December 19, 2025.
According to the Federal Ministry of Health, the agreement covers areas including disease surveillance, health data systems and procedures involving pathogen samples.
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.
Mr Atiku said the commitments should be assessed against the state of Nigeria’s healthcare system, particularly maternal health.
He cited internationally comparable estimates putting Nigeria’s maternal deaths at 75,000 in 2023, the highest reported total globally.
“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?”
The former vice president also questioned the government’s capacity to meet its domestic health funding commitments, citing concerns over the release of funds for approved projects.
He referred to comments by the Minister of Health, Muhammad Ali Pate, during a budget defence before lawmakers that only N36 million had been released from the N218 billion appropriated for capital projects and programmes at the Ministry of Health headquarters in 2025 at the time of the defence.
“A government that cannot release funds for approved health projects must explain how it intends to honour a multibillion-dollar commitment,” Mr 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.”
Mr Atiku called on the Federal Government to publish the complete MoU and all related protocols and annexes, including data-sharing arrangements, specimen-sharing agreements and financial commitments.
He also raised questions about the handling of Nigerians’ medical information and pathogen samples under the agreement.
“Can Nigerians’ medical information or pathogen samples leave the country? Who may access them? What safeguards protect patients? Does NAFDAC retain full authority to inspect medicines and medical products? What exactly have the Federal Government and the states promised to spend?” he asked.
