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<\/a><\/div>\n\u201cFrom now until 2030, the expectation is that the federal government will put in $3 billion into health, which is more than what the US government will contribute as it ramps down its contribution,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He said the arrangement reflected Nigeria\u2019s position that long-term dependence on external assistance was not in the country\u2019s national interest.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur position is that dependency in the long run is not in our national interest on external support,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe articulated that we want Nigeria to exit from dependency from other entities over time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Health financing<\/strong><\/h3>\nMr Pate acknowledged that achieving self-sustaining health financing would require increased domestic investment, noting that Nigeria was not yet in a position to fully fund its health sector.<\/p>\n
He said 15 Nigerian government institutions, including the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Finance, and Health and Social Welfare, participated in articulating Nigeria\u2019s position during negotiations with the United States.<\/p>\n
According to him, the US had supported health programmes in Nigeria for about 25 years, including interventions for HIV, tuberculosis and malaria, benefiting millions of Nigerians.<\/p>\n
However, following a shift in US government policy in 2025, Nigeria decided to assume greater responsibility for financing its health programmes.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow do we own it responsibly? So, with the US government, we agreed that we will have a transition. By 2030, they exit and we exit. That means we fully fund our health sector,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Mr Pate said President Bola Tinubu had increased domestic health allocations, including providing six per cent of the government budget for health, as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria\u2019s contribution.<\/p>\n
He emphasised that sustainable financing would require all three tiers of government to increase spending on citizens\u2019 health.<\/p>\n
Mr Pate said the transition was intended to strengthen Nigeria\u2019s ownership of health programmes and reduce reliance on funding decisions made by other countries.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe cannot rely on somebody else\u2019s taxpayers funding for the health of Nigerians,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
On concerns surrounding the MoU, Mr Pate described it as a non-binding framework for cooperation, anchored on Nigeria\u2019s national policies and laws.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe MoU that was signed with the US government is a non-binding MoU. It is anchored on Nigerian policy, national policies and laws, does not subvert our sovereignty or subvert US government sovereignty over their resources.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s also one that either party can walk away at any time,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Mr Pate said the Attorney-General of the Federation had also confirmed that the agreement contained nothing that subverted Nigeria\u2019s national interest.<\/p>\n
He added that the MoU was publicly available and interested parties could request a copy from the ministry through the Freedom of Information process.<\/p>\n
READ ALSO:\u00a0Nigeria is building a sustainable health financing future,\u00a0By Muhammad Ali Pate<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\nThe minister said the agreement aligned with the government\u2019s Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, which prioritises improved governance, stronger primary healthcare, expanded health insurance coverage, domestic production and increased health security.<\/p>\n
He said the cooperation would support public health and laboratory capacity, including the detection of antimicrobial resistance, while promoting local capacity to produce essential health commodities.<\/p>\n
Mr Pate said strengthening domestic production and ensuring local markets could supply essential medicines, including antimicrobials, were important steps towards reducing external dependence.<\/p>\n
He said the transition would require sustained efforts and domestic investment to ensure Nigeria could finance its health priorities as external contributions declined.<\/p>\n
Mr Pate urged Nigerians to examine the agreement and its provisions, saying the government\u2019s objective was to strengthen national ownership of health financing and service delivery.<\/p>\n
The minister said the agreement aligned with the government\u2019s Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, which prioritises improved governance, stronger primary healthcare, expanded health insurance coverage, domestic production and increased health security.<\/p>\n
He said the cooperation would support public health and laboratory capacity, including the detection of antimicrobial resistance, while promoting local capacity to produce essential health commodities.<\/p>\n
Mr Pate said strengthening domestic production and ensuring local markets could supply essential medicines, including antimicrobials, were important steps towards reducing external dependence.<\/p>\n
He said the transition would require sustained efforts and domestic investment to ensure Nigeria could finance its health priorities as external contributions declined.<\/p>\n
Mr Pate urged Nigerians to examine the agreement and its provisions, saying the government\u2019s objective was to strengthen national ownership of health financing and service delivery.<\/p>\n