The House of Representatives has moved to secure alternative funding for health programs previously sponsored by the United States government in Nigeria. This decision follows the adoption of a motion on Matters of Urgent Public Importance, presented by Rep. Kwamoti Laori during Thursday’s plenary session.
Laori emphasized the crucial role of healthcare services in national security and development, asserting that a nation’s productivity is largely dependent on the health of its population. He also recalled that on January 28, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order that altered U.S. policies on global health security, halting all funding for ongoing health programs managed by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
Before the Executive Order, USAID supported several key healthcare initiatives in Nigeria, including maternal and child health, family planning, malaria prevention, tuberculosis control, immunization campaigns, and health education. In 2023 alone, the U.S. invested over $600 million in Nigeria’s health sector, strengthening health systems and addressing current and future health security threats across Africa.
Laori warned that U.S.-funded organizations, such as the Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN) and the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which supports HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and antiretroviral therapy for millions of Nigerians, would be directly impacted. Similarly, programs targeting maternal and child health, family planning, malaria prevention, tuberculosis control, immunization, and health education will face significant disruptions.
Other programs affected by the U.S. policy include the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA), aimed at improving Nigeria’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats, as well as the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), which works to reduce malaria-related deaths through funding for insecticide-treated nets, antimalarial medications, and community awareness efforts. Nutrition programs combating malnutrition among children and pregnant women, as well as the COVID-19 response efforts including vaccine distribution and public health messaging, are also at risk.
Laori highlighted the impact on the 1.9 million Nigerians living with HIV/AIDS, who rely on free antiretroviral therapy funded by the U.S. He expressed concern that the lack of funding could result in preventable deaths and worsen Nigeria’s public health challenges.
In response, the House mandated the Committee on Appropriation to review and potentially increase the 2025 health sector budget. The Committee on Health Services and Health Institutions is also tasked with revisiting the 2025 Appropriation Bill to ensure adequate funding to offset the gap created by the U.S. policy shift.
Additionally, the Committees on Finance and Foreign Affairs have been instructed to seek alternative sources of funding through regional and international partnerships. They are to engage with organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Union (EU), private foundations, and other donor agencies to sustain life-saving initiatives threatened by the policy change.
Deputy Speaker Rep. Benjamin Kalu also urged the Ministry of Health, Communication, and National Orientation to raise public awareness about the potential consequences of the U.S. policy. He emphasized the need for government agencies to prioritize resource efficiency and prudent management in the face of the emerging crisis.
