Faisal Salisu DambattaA five-year health agreement between Nigeria and the United States, focused on supporting Christian faith-based healthcare providers, has sparked criticism from Muslim groups, who describe the deal as discriminatory, unjust, and divisive.
Announced on Saturday, the bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s health system, particularly through Christian-run facilities, which currently serve over 30 percent of Nigerians.
The US Department of State said the agreement will expand access to essential preventive and curative services, including interventions for HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, maternal and child health, and polio. The US plans to commit nearly $2.1 billion over five years, while Nigeria will increase domestic health spending by nearly $3 billion during the term of the MoU — the largest co-investment under the America First Global Health Strategy to date.
The MoU was negotiated amid reforms by the Nigerian government to protect Christian communities from violence. Former US President Donald Trump previously described Christianity as facing an “existential threat” in Nigeria and other countries, prompting the US to designate Nigeria as a country of “particular concern” over alleged persecution of Christians and impose visa restrictions on Nigerian citizens.
The US State Department emphasized that the deal is linked to Nigeria’s efforts to combat extremist religious violence against vulnerable Christian populations and expects continued progress in protecting these communities.
