In a significant shift for transatlantic relations, Washington has signed a massive five-year bilateral agreement to bolster Nigeria’s healthcare system, signaling a cautious thaw in ties between the two nations. Under the terms of the deal announced Saturday, the United States will contribute nearly $2.1 billion toward a coordinated strike against HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, and polio, while prioritizing maternal and child health. In return, Nigeria has pledged a $3 billion increase in its own national health spending over the same period.
This partnership comes at a delicate moment, following President Donald Trump’s recent social media warnings of potential military action in Nigeria to address the targeted killing of Christians. The White House has consistently framed the situation in Africa’s most populous nation as an “existential threat” to Christianity, placing Nigeria back on a list of countries with severe religious freedom concerns and tightening visa restrictions. Notably, this new aid package includes a specific emphasis on supporting Christian faith-based healthcare providers and was negotiated as Nigeria implemented reforms aimed at protecting Christian populations from violence.
The agreement also reflects a new era of American foreign policy under the “America First” banner. Following the closure of USAID, the Trump administration has moved away from traditional NGO-led aid in favor of direct bilateral deals, similar to a recent $2.5 billion package signed with Kenya. While Abuja continues to maintain that it does not tolerate religious persecution, the government remains locked in a decade-long battle against a jihadist insurgency that has claimed over 40,000 lives across both Muslim and Christian communities. This new deal suggests that, for now, health diplomacy is the chosen bridge to navigate these complex political and religious waters.
