Expert, Others Query Data Sharing, Annual $600m Commitment

BY PATIENCE IVIE IHEJIRIKA and AZA MSUE

A professor of virology and former vice-chancellor of Redeemer’s University, Oyewale Tomori, has warned that Nigeria may change into extra depending on international help beneath its well being settlement with the United States (US).

He cited issues over knowledge sharing, pathogen entry and the sustainability of funding.

Also, the Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF) has expressed deep concern over the medical support settlement reportedly signed between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Government of the United States of America.

NOSCEF mentioned it was notably nervous in regards to the reported provisions regarding the availability of vaccines and medicines, Nigeria’s monetary commitments, and the regulatory tasks of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

Tomori instructed LEADERSHIP that the settlement may undermine Nigeria’s well being safety if the nation shared well being knowledge and pathogen samples with out ensures of equitable profit sharing.

He expressed concern that Nigeria may present worthwhile well being info and organic assets to the US however later must buy medicines, reagents and different merchandise developed from them.

“By simply giving away our health data and pathogens to America, with no guarantee of benefit sharing,” Nigeria may find yourself in a scenario the place it continues to depend upon exterior help to deal with its well being challenges, he mentioned.

The Nigerian and US governments signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 19 December 2025, overlaying well being cooperation and funding from April 2026 to December 2030.

Under the settlement, the United States is anticipated to offer almost $2 billion in grant funding over 5 years, whereas Nigeria has dedicated to allocating no less than six per cent of executed annual federal and state budgets to well being, a transfer projected to mobilise almost $3 billion in home well being financing.

The settlement covers illness surveillance, outbreak response, laboratory techniques, assist for frontline well being staff, well being info techniques and entry to important medical commodities.

However, Tomori questioned whether or not Nigeria may maintain its monetary commitments, given its historical past of low budgetary allocations and challenges in releasing authorised funds.

He mentioned Nigeria’s proposed contribution amounted to roughly $600 million yearly, elevating questions in regards to the authorities’s capability to offer the assets required to implement the settlement.

Tomori cited figures attributed to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, indicating that solely N36 million had been launched from the ₦218 billion well being capital finances for 2025.

He requested how the federal government would mobilise the assets required to satisfy its commitments whereas addressing present gaps within the well being system.

According to him, though the US funding may present extra assets for Nigeria’s well being programmes, the nation risked remaining depending on American provides after the settlement expires.

He argued that the help was not essentially a direct money switch, however included supplies, amenities, reagents and medicines sourced from the US economic system.

“Knowing the way of aid, Nigeria will still continue to need all these resources from America, after the end of the agreement,” he mentioned, warning that the nation may finally must finance the purchases with its personal assets.

On accountability, Tomori mentioned Nigeria should strengthen its personal mechanisms for making certain that public funds are correctly allotted and spent.

He argued that whereas the United States may demand accountability for its contribution, Nigeria should take accountability for monitoring its personal spending and making certain that home assets ship measurable advantages.

“There is no accountability you can put in place for money or funds that you did not contribute,” he mentioned, including that Nigeria already had establishments and procedures for accountable spending however wanted the political will to implement them.

Tomori additionally questioned whether or not the nation’s technical capability and institutional safeguards can be adequate to guard its pursuits beneath the settlement.

Although he acknowledged that Nigeria possessed the experience and institutional capability required to handle such preparations, he mentioned the nation had not created a sufficiently supportive setting for scientists, researchers and well being staff to contribute successfully.

He recognized self-interest at completely different ranges of governance as a significant impediment to making sure that nationwide pursuits take priority over particular person pursuits.

To handle these issues, Tomori referred to as for a evaluation of the data- and pathogen-sharing provisions, arguing that the settlement didn’t assure equitable advantages for Nigeria.

He urged the federal government to take a position its home contribution in strengthening native analysis, laboratory infrastructure and the capability of Nigerian scientists to analyse well being knowledge and course of pathogen samples throughout the nation.

According to him, creating these capabilities domestically would assist Nigeria retain higher worth from its well being assets whereas strengthening nationwide well being safety.

Meanwhile, Nigeria isn’t the one African nation to lift issues over the United States’ new bilateral well being agreements. Ghana, Zimbabwe and Namibia have rejected proposed offers, whereas Kenya and Zambia have additionally confronted disputes over provisions regarding well being knowledge and organic specimens.

The agreements, launched beneath the US “America First” world well being technique, are designed to offer well being help over 5 years whereas requiring recipient international locations to extend home well being spending. However, issues have emerged over whether or not the monetary assist justifies the proposed entry to delicate well being info and organic assets.

According to accessible stories, Zimbabwe withdrew from negotiations over a proposed $367 million, five-year settlement in February 2026, citing issues that it might be required to share delicate well being knowledge and organic assets with out ensures of entry to medical improvements developed from them.

Government spokesperson Nick Mangwana described the proposed association as an “unequal exchange”, arguing that it threatened the nation’s knowledge sovereignty and nationwide pursuits.

Ghana additionally declined a proposed settlement reportedly price $109 million over 5 years, citing issues in regards to the sharing of delicate well being knowledge as a significant motive for its determination. Namibia equally rejected a proposed deal amid issues about provisions on the sharing of well being knowledge and organic specimens.

Zambia’s expertise highlights how such issues can affect negotiations. Following a chronic dispute, the nation finalised a well being settlement with the US in October 2026 after contentious provisions requiring entry to affected person knowledge and medical specimens have been faraway from the ultimate deal.

The developments have intensified debate over whether or not African international locations can safe exterior well being funding with out compromising management over their well being info and organic assets.

However, the Federal Government has described the settlement as a significant step in direction of strengthening well being safety, increasing major healthcare and constructing a extra resilient and self-reliant well being system.

In its announcement following the signing, the federal government mentioned the partnership would assist the early detection, prevention and management of infectious illnesses, together with HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, whereas enhancing laboratory techniques, illness surveillance and entry to important well being commodities.

The authorities additionally mentioned the settlement aligned with ongoing well being sector reforms geared toward enhancing healthcare accessibility, affordability, high quality and accountability.

It maintained that progressively growing home well being financing as exterior grant assist declines would assist a transition in direction of a extra sustainable well being system.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, described the MoU as a significant step in direction of safeguarding Nigerians’ well being and strengthening nationwide resilience.

“This partnership underscores our dedication to construct a well being system that may forestall, detect, and reply to well being threats, whereas increasing entry to reasonably priced, high quality look after all Nigerians.

“It also reflects our firm commitment to domestic investment, accountability, and long-term sustainability,” Pate mentioned.

The settlement is anticipated to run till December 2030.

Also, the Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF) has expressed deep concern over the medical support settlement reportedly signed between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Government of the United States of America.

NOSCEF mentioned it was notably nervous in regards to the reported provisions regarding the availability of vaccines and medicines, Nigeria’s monetary commitments, and the regulatory tasks of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

In a press release issued by NOSCEF chairman, Elder Sunday Oibe, on the weekend, the discussion board requested the Federal Government to clarify the monetary implications of the reported $2.1 billion Nigerian counterpart contribution, the particular obligations undertaken by each international locations, and the safeguards established to guard Nigerian sufferers.

The discussion board mentioned President Tinubu and the Federal Government should clarify the true phrases of the settlement and exhibit, with proof, that Nigeria’s pursuits have been adequately protected.

The assertion referred to as on the Federal Government to make the complete textual content of the settlement public, notably any clauses regarding the testing, analysis, approval, monitoring, and distribution of vaccines and medicines equipped beneath the association.

It urged the National Assembly, notably the related committees accountable for well being, international affairs, and public finance, to urgently examine the reported settlement and set up the complete information.

NOSCEF said, “According to the reports, the United States is expected to provide vaccines and medicines valued at approximately $3 billion to support Nigeria’s efforts to combat malaria and other life-threatening diseases, while Nigeria is expected to contribute a counterpart fund of approximately $2.1 billion. Of even greater concern are allegations that the agreement restricts NAFDAC from independently reviewing or testing the supplied medical products”

“If these reported provisions precisely replicate the settlement signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, they elevate critical questions on public well being safety, regulatory independence, moral accountability, transparency, and Nigeria’s nationwide sovereignty.

The well being and lives of Nigerians mustn’t ever change into bargaining chips in any worldwide settlement”

NOSCEF maintained that, “The Independence of NAFDAC Must Be Protected. NAFDAC exists to safeguard the well being of Nigerians by making certain that medicines, vaccines, and different regulated merchandise meet the required requirements of security, high quality, and efficacy.

“Any agreement that prevents or unduly restricts NAFDAC from carrying out its statutory regulatory responsibilities would be a matter of grave national concern. No matter how generous an aid package may appear, Nigerians must not be expected to surrender the independent oversight necessary to protect their lives”

The authorities should categorically make clear whether or not NAFDAC retains its full regulatory authority over these merchandise. Nigerians Deserve Transparency, not hypothesis”

The assertion added, “The public has a right to know the actual terms of an international agreement that concerns the health and well-being of millions of citizens. Free medical supplies must not mean compromised safety”

“NOSCEF recognises the importance of international cooperation in addressing malaria and other diseases that continue to threaten lives across Nigeria. We also acknowledge that properly evaluated vaccines and medicines can play an important role in reducing preventable illness and death.”

“Nevertheless, the fact that a medical product is provided free of charge does not remove the need for appropriate safety assessments, regulatory oversight, informed public communication, and post-distribution monitoring”

“We are concerned by reports that other African countries, including Ghana, have raised objections to similar arrangements or declined to accept particular terms. These reports should be clarified by the relevant governments so that Nigerians can understand the precise nature of the agreements and the decisions taken,” the assertion defined.