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 overseas help below 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 help settlement reportedly signed between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Government of the United States of America.

NOSCEF stated it was notably anxious concerning the reported provisions referring to 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 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 assets 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 state of affairs the place it continues to rely on exterior help to handle its well being challenges, he stated.

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 anticipated to supply almost $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 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 data techniques 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 authorised funds.

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

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

According to him, though the US funding might present further 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 stated, warning that the nation might finally should finance the purchases with its personal assets.

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

He argued that whereas the United States might demand accountability for its contribution, Nigeria should take accountability for monitoring its personal spending and guaranteeing 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 stated, 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 enough to guard its pursuits below the settlement.

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

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

To deal with these issues, Tomori referred to as for a overview 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, creating these capabilities regionally would assist Nigeria retain higher worth from its well being assets whereas strengthening nationwide well being safety.

Meanwhile, Nigeria will not be the one African nation to boost 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 referring to well being information and organic specimens.

The agreements, launched below the US “America First” world well being technique, are designed to supply well being help over 5 years whereas requiring recipient nations 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 assets.

According to out there experiences, 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 information 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 information sovereignty and nationwide pursuits.

Ghana additionally declined a proposed settlement reportedly price $109 million over 5 years, citing issues concerning the sharing of delicate well being information as a significant cause for its resolution. 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 chronic 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 nations can safe exterior well being funding with out compromising management over their well being data 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 stated the partnership would assist the early detection, prevention and management of infectious ailments, together with HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, whereas enhancing laboratory techniques, illness surveillance and entry to important well being commodities.

The authorities additionally stated 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 inexpensive, high quality take care of all Nigerians.

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

The settlement is anticipated to run till December 2030.

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

NOSCEF stated it was notably anxious concerning the reported provisions referring to 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 nations, and the safeguards established to guard Nigerian sufferers.

The discussion board stated President Tinubu and the Federal Government should clarify the true phrases of the settlement and display, 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 referring to the testing, analysis, approval, monitoring, and distribution of vaccines and medicines equipped below the association.

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

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 increase critical questions on public well being safety, regulatory independence, moral accountability, 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 guaranteeing 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.