The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N4.8bn for the procurement of 150,000 HIV treatment packs over the next four months to ensure continued access to life-saving medication amid uncertainty caused by foreign aid policy shifts under the Donald Trump administration.
Announcing the decision on Monday, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, also disclosed that the council approved a $1.07bn healthcare sector reform under the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity (HOPE) programme.
The initiative, backed by two concessional loans of $500 million each from the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) and an additional $70 million in grants, is designed to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure and improve human capital development. According to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, the funding will be directed toward improving primary healthcare services, emergency maternal and child health care, and the recruitment and training of healthcare workers.
Pate stressed that the N4.8bn HIV treatment allocation shows the federal government’s commitment to ensuring uninterrupted treatment for those in need. The approval comes amid ongoing concerns over the impact of U.S. foreign aid policy changes on Nigeria’s health programmes
Shortly after taking office, President Donald Trump ordered a 90-day pause on U.S. foreign aid.
The move has sparked uncertainty for international health initiatives, including the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which supports more than 20 million people living with HIV worldwide.
Trump’s directive halted payments by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), resulting in widespread concern among aid groups. But following initial confusion over which programmes were exempt, the U.S. State Department clarified that PEPFAR was covered under a waiver for life-saving humanitarian assistance.
A memo issued by the Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy confirmed that HIV treatment and care, tuberculosis prevention, laboratory services, and supply chain operations for medicines could continue.
However, it also stated that any activities not explicitly listed in the guidance required further approval.
Despite the waiver, concerns remain about the long-term sustainability of U.S. funding for global health initiatives.
The Trump administration is reportedly considering structural changes that could place USAID under State Department control.
Meanwhile, to mitigate potential funding disruptions, the Nigerian government has formed a multi-ministerial committee comprising representatives from the Ministries of Finance, Health, Defense, and Environment, along with the Governors’ Forum.
The committee has been tasked with developing a transition and sustainability plan to ensure continued access to critical health services, including HIV treatment.
“This administration is committed to ensuring that those receiving treatment do not experience interruptions,” Pate assured.
“We appreciate the U.S. government’s contributions over the years and remain committed to a constructive partnership while strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system with domestic resources.”
In addition to the health sector approvals, the FEC also greenlit N20bn for Nigeria Customs Service projects, including procurement of compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles and the construction of forward bases in remote areas, as well as a N1bn life insurance policy for officers.
