Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has called on the Federal Government to disclose the full contents of its health agreement with the United States, arguing that Nigerians should know the obligations undertaken on their behalf.
Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, made the demand in a statement issued on Tuesday, September 29, by Phrank Shaibu, director of strategic communication of his campaign council.
His call follows recent comments by Ghanaian President John Mahama that his government turned down a proposed health agreement with Washington after raising concerns over the handling of medical records, pathogen information, funding responsibilities and inspections of 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 and procedures concerning pathogen samples.
The US is expected to commit nearly $2 billion in grants, while Nigeria’s own health-related commitments are projected at about $3 billion over the five-year period.
Against this background, Atiku wants the government to clarify whether provisions that raised concerns in Ghana also feature in Nigeria’s agreement.
“That is precisely why the government must publish the full text. Nigerians should not have to guess what has been agreed in their name,” he said.
The former vice-president also questioned whether Nigeria’s healthcare system was positioned to absorb and effectively utilise the financial commitments attached to the agreement.
He pointed to the country’s maternal mortality burden as one measure of the challenges confronting the health sector.
“Every one of those deaths represents a woman whose family expected her to come home,” he said.
“This crisis did not begin under Tinubu, but he has had more than three years to show Nigerians how his government is making childbirth safer. Where are the results?”
Atiku also cited concerns over the government’s ability to fund its existing health programmes.
He referred to remarks by Ali Pate, coordinating minister of health and social welfare, during his 2025 budget defence, when he told lawmakers that N36 million had been released from the N218 billion allocated for capital projects and programmes at the ministry’s headquarters.
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“A government that cannot release funds for approved health projects must explain how it intends to honour a multibillion-dollar commitment,” Atiku said.
“A signed partnership cannot staff a maternity ward, supply a hospital or save a woman in labour. Nigerians need to see the funding and the care.”
He subsequently demanded the release of the full agreement and accompanying documents, including implementation protocols, annexes, data-sharing arrangements, specimen-sharing agreements and financial undertakings.
Atiku said Nigeria could benefit from international partnerships in healthcare but maintained that such arrangements should be subjected to public scrutiny and accountability.
“The same duty of disclosure applies to the administration’s other international commitments, including its expanding partnership with France,” he added.
He further challenged the Federal Government to explain the specific terms it accepted under the US agreement.
“Ghana examined the proposal before it and said no. Nigeria has already signed. Tinubu must now tell Nigerians exactly what he said yes to. Nigeria’s sovereignty is not classified information,” he concluded.