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 might turn out to be extra depending on international help beneath its well being settlement with the United States (US).

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

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

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

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

He expressed concern that Nigeria might present precious well being data and organic sources to the US however later should 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 might 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, protecting well being cooperation and funding from April 2026 to December 2030.

Under the settlement, the United States is predicted to supply practically $2 billion in grant funding over 5 years, whereas Nigeria has dedicated to allocating at the very least six per cent of executed annual federal and state budgets to well being, a transfer projected to mobilise practically $3 billion in home well being financing.

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

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

He mentioned Nigeria’s proposed contribution amounted to roughly $600 million yearly, elevating questions concerning the authorities’s capability to supply the sources 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 price range for 2025.

He requested how the federal government would mobilise the sources required to fulfill its commitments whereas addressing current gaps within the well being system.

According to him, though the US funding might present extra sources 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 might ultimately should finance the purchases with its personal sources.

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 might demand accountability for its contribution, Nigeria should take duty for monitoring its personal spending and making certain that home sources 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 could be enough 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 surroundings for scientists, researchers and well being staff to contribute successfully.

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

To deal with these issues, Tomori known 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 speculate its home contribution in strengthening native analysis, laboratory infrastructure and the capability of Nigerian scientists to analyse well being information and course of pathogen samples throughout the nation.

According to him, growing these capabilities regionally would assist Nigeria retain better worth from its well being sources whereas strengthening nationwide well being safety.

Meanwhile, Nigeria will not be 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 information and organic specimens.

The agreements, launched beneath the US “America First” international well being technique, are designed to supply 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 data and organic sources.

According to out there stories, Zimbabwe withdrew from negotiations over a proposed $367 million, five-year settlement in February 2026, citing issues that it could be required to share delicate well being information and organic sources 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 information sovereignty and nationwide pursuits.

Ghana additionally declined a proposed settlement reportedly value $109 million over 5 years, citing issues concerning the sharing of delicate well being information as a serious purpose for its choice. Namibia equally rejected a proposed deal amid issues about provisions on the sharing of well being information and organic specimens.

Zambia’s expertise highlights how such issues can affect negotiations. Following a protracted dispute, the nation finalised a well being settlement with the US in October 2026 after contentious provisions requiring entry to affected person information and medical specimens had 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 data and organic sources.

However, the Federal Government has described the settlement as a serious step in direction of strengthening well being safety, increasing main 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 methods, illness surveillance and entry to important well being commodities.

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

It maintained that progressively rising 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 serious 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 inexpensive, 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 predicted to run till December 2030.

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

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

In an announcement 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 precise 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 known as on the Federal Government to make the total textual content of the settlement public, significantly any clauses regarding the testing, analysis, approval, monitoring, and distribution of vaccines and medicines provided beneath the association.

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

NOSCEF acknowledged, “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 increase critical questions on public well being safety, regulatory independence, moral duty, transparency, and Nigeria’s nationwide sovereignty.

The well being and lives of Nigerians must not ever turn out to be 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.