Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has called on the federal government to make public Nigeria’s health agreement with the United States following Ghana’s decision to reject a proposed pact with Washington.
Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the request in a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, director of strategic communication for his campaign council.
Nigeria entered into a five-year health memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the US on December 19, 2025.
The federal ministry of health said the agreement covers disease surveillance, health data systems and procedures relating to pathogen samples.
Under the agreement, 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 said his administration rejected a proposed US health compact over concerns surrounding medical records, pathogen information, funding obligations and inspections of imported medicines.
‘NIGERIA’S SOVEREIGNTY IS NOT CLASSIFIED INFORMATION’
Atiku said Nigerians deserve to know whether provisions that Ghana rejected 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 questioned whether the financial commitments under the agreement are appropriate given the state of healthcare delivery in Nigeria, pointing to 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 further questioned how the federal government plans to meet its domestic funding obligations under the agreement when some approved health projects have struggled to receive funding.
He referred to remarks by Ali Pate, coordinating minister of health and social welfare, who told lawmakers that only N36 million had been released from the N218 billion allocated for capital projects and programmes at the ministry’s headquarters in 2025 when he defended the budget.
“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.”
He urged the federal government to release the complete MoU, including related protocols, annexes, data-sharing arrangements, specimen-sharing agreements and financial commitments.
Atiku said Nigeria welcomes international partnerships capable of improving healthcare but maintained that the government must be accountable for the terms it accepts and the outcomes it delivers.
“The same duty of disclosure applies to the administration’s other international commitments, including its expanding partnership with France,” he added.
“Ghana examined the proposal before it and said no. Nigeria has already signed. Tinubu must now tell Nigerians exactly what he said yes to. Nigeria’s sovereignty is not classified information.”