Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on the Federal Government to make Nigeria’s health agreement with the United States publicly available, following Ghana’s decision to turn down a proposed health compact with Washington.
Atiku said Nigerians should be allowed to examine the agreement signed by the two countries and review the commitments Nigeria has made under the arrangement.
Ghanaian President John Mahama recently disclosed that his government declined the proposed US agreement over concerns surrounding access to medical records and pathogen information, counterpart funding obligations, and the authority of Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority to inspect imported medicines.
Nigeria, however, signed a five-year health Memorandum of Understanding with the US on December 19, 2025. The Federal Ministry of Health said the agreement provides for cooperation in areas including disease surveillance, health data systems, laboratory capacity and procedures involving pathogen samples.
The ministry also said the partnership is expected to attract nearly $2 billion in US grants, while Nigeria’s projected health financing under the arrangement is estimated at almost $3 billion.
Atiku’s demand does not establish that Nigeria’s agreement contains the provisions that prompted Ghana’s rejection. Rather, he is asking the government to publish the full document so Nigerians can independently assess its terms, including its financial, data-sharing and health-security provisions.
