ADC candidate questions patient data, pathogen samples, $5bn deal, cites N36m released from N218bn health budget
Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress, ADC, Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has called on President Bola Tinubu to publish the full text of Nigeria’s health agreement with the United States.
Atiku made the call in a press statement issued on Monday, September 29, 2026, by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council.
The demand follows the disclosure by Ghanaian President John Mahama that Ghana rejected a similar health compact proposed by the United States over concerns relating to medical records, pathogen information, funding obligations and inspection of imported medicines.
According to Atiku, Nigerians do not currently know whether the provisions rejected by Ghana are contained in the agreement signed by Nigeria.
“At this point, Nigerians do not know whether the provisions Ghana rejected are in the agreement Tinubu signed. That is precisely why the government must publish the full text. Nigerians should not have to guess what has been agreed in their name,” Atiku said.
Nigeria signed its five-year health Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the United States on December 19, 2025. According to the Federal Ministry of Health, the agreement covers disease surveillance, health data systems and procedures involving pathogen samples.
Under the MoU, the United States is expected to provide nearly $2 billion in grants, while Nigeria has made health spending commitments projected to mobilise nearly $3 billion over five years.
Atiku said the financial commitments must be measured against the state of healthcare delivery in the country. He referenced internationally comparable estimates which put Nigeria’s maternal deaths at 75,000 in 2023, the highest total in the world.
“Every one of those deaths represents a woman whose family expected her to come home. 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?” he queried.
The former Vice President also questioned the Federal Government’s capacity to fulfil its domestic funding commitments. He cited comments by the Minister of Health, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, who reportedly told lawmakers during his budget defence that only N36 million had been released from the N218 billion appropriated for capital projects and programmes at the Ministry of Health headquarters in 2025.
“A government that cannot release funds for approved health projects must explain how it intends to honour a multibillion-dollar commitment. 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,” Atiku said.
He called on the Federal Government to publish the complete MoU together with every related protocol, annex, data-sharing arrangement, specimen-sharing agreement and financial undertaking.
Atiku raised six specific questions for the Presidency to address: whether Nigerians’ medical information or pathogen samples can leave the country, who may access them, what safeguards protect patients, whether NAFDAC retains full authority to inspect medicines and medical products, and what exactly the Federal Government and the states have promised to spend.
“Can Nigerians’ medical information or pathogen samples leave the country? Who may access them? What safeguards protect patients? Does NAFDAC retain full authority to inspect medicines and medical products? What exactly have the Federal Government and the states promised to spend? Tinubu should put the documents before Nigerians and answer these questions plainly,” he said.
Atiku added that Nigeria welcomes international cooperation that saves lives, but the government must be accountable for the terms it accepts and the results it delivers. He said the same duty of disclosure applies to other international commitments, including the administration’s expanding partnership with France.
“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,” the statement concluded.
As of the time of filing this report, the Federal Ministry of Health and the Presidency are yet to respond to the call for publication of the health agreement.
