Precious Nwonu, Enugu

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to publish the full text of Nigeria’s five-year health agreement with the United States.

Atiku’s demand followed concerns raised by Ghana over a proposed health compact with the US, particularly issues relating to medical records, pathogen information, funding commitments and the regulation of imported medical products.

In a statement issued by the Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said Nigerians should be able to examine the commitments made by the Federal Government under the agreement.

Nigeria and the United States signed the health Memorandum of Understanding on December 19, 2025. According to the Federal Ministry of Health, the five-year agreement, running from April 2026 to December 2030, covers disease surveillance, outbreak response, laboratory systems, biosafety procedures for pathogen samples, health data systems and access to essential health commodities.

Under the agreement, the US is expected to provide nearly $2bn in grant funding, while Nigeria has committed to increasing domestic health financing, projected by the government to mobilise nearly $3bn over the five-year period.

Atiku questioned whether provisions that Ghana reportedly rejected were contained in Nigeria’s agreement with Washington.

“At this point, Nigerians do not know whether the provisions Ghana rejected are in the agreement Tinubu signed. 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.

Ghanaian President John Mahama recently said his government rejected a proposed US health compact after concerns were raised over medical records, pathogen information, counterpart funding and the inspection of imported medicines.

Atiku also raised concerns about Nigeria’s healthcare challenges, particularly maternal mortality.

He cited internationally reported estimates that Nigeria recorded about 75,000 maternal deaths in 2023, representing a significant share of global maternal deaths.

The former vice president argued that the government’s international health commitments should be considered alongside its ability to finance healthcare programmes domestically.

He specifically questioned the level of funding released for capital projects at the Federal Ministry of Health.

Atiku cited remarks attributed to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, during the ministry’s 2026 budget defence, that only N36m had been released from the N218bn appropriated for capital projects and programmes at the ministry’s headquarters in 2025.

“A government that cannot release funds for approved health projects must explain how it intends to honour a multibillion-dollar commitment,” Atiku said.

He argued that the impact of the agreement should ultimately be measured by improvements in healthcare delivery, including the ability of hospitals to provide services and women to receive safe maternity care.

Atiku further called for the publication of all documents connected to the agreement, including protocols, annexes, data-sharing arrangements, specimen-sharing agreements and financial commitments.

He questioned what would happen to Nigerians’ medical information and pathogen samples under the agreement, who would have access to such information and what safeguards would protect patients.

He also asked whether the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control would retain its full authority to inspect medicines and medical products imported under the arrangement.

The ADC candidate said Nigeria should continue to participate in international health partnerships but maintained that the government should disclose the terms of agreements entered into on behalf of Nigerians.

“Nigeria welcomes international cooperation that saves lives, but the government must be accountable for the terms it accepts and the results it delivers,” he said.

Atiku also called for greater disclosure of the administration’s other international commitments, including its growing partnership with France.

“Nigeria’s sovereignty is not classified information,” he said.