The decision by President Donald Trump to scale back U.S. contributions to global health initiatives marks a significant turning point in international public health. As the largest donor to global health causes, the United States’ partial withdrawal has triggered alarm in numerous countries—especially in developing nations that rely heavily on donor assistance to manage their health systems. For Nigeria, the implications are particularly severe. With its healthcare system substantially bankrolled by foreign donors, especially the U.S., this development has exposed the fragility of its health infrastructure and highlighted the urgent necessity for domestic reform.
A Costly Dependency: Nigeria’s Reliance on Foreign Aid
Nigeria’s overreliance on international aid has long left it vulnerable to external policy shifts. From disease outbreaks to routine immunizations and maternal care, donor funding supports a significant portion of Nigeria’s healthcare delivery system. Between 2016 and 2024, Nigeria received approximately $1.26 billion in health-related support from the World Health Organization (WHO), with the United States providing the largest share. That funding has helped tackle malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and various epidemic outbreaks across the country. However, with Trump’s administration trimming global health donations—both through the WHO and other U.S. agencies like the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)—Nigeria now finds itself facing a serious funding vacuum.
This sudden shortfall coincides with Trump’s continued criticism of the WHO. Since 2020, he has accused the organization of aligning with China and mismanaging the COVID-19 crisis. In his second term, Trump has doubled down on this stance. U.S. Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. has reinforced the administration’s position, describing the WHO as obsolete and calling for the creation of a new, independent global health platform devoid of Chinese and pharmaceutical influence.
As a result of these political rifts, the WHO has drastically scaled down its operations. The organization reduced its proposed 2026/2027 budget from $5.3 billion to $4.2 billion—far below the $6.8 billion earmarked for 2024/2025. Even then, it has only managed to secure about 60 percent of the funds needed, leaving a $1.7 billion gap yet to be filled.
Nigeria’s Healthcare System: A House Built on Shaky Ground
The donor pullback is forcing Nigeria to confront its long-standing failure to invest sustainably in its healthcare infrastructure. Despite the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which should have served as a wake-up call, Nigeria has done little to fortify its health system. It still lacks the capacity to produce vaccines or essential medications at scale, instead depending on Western countries and international organizations to meet even the most basic healthcare needs.
This chronic dependency is compounded by widespread corruption. Between 2010 and 2014, Nigeria’s national AIDS agency lost $3.8 million in donor funds to fraud, as revealed by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS’ inspector-general. The resulting scandal forced the Global Fund to suspend payments to Nigeria. Meanwhile, malaria nets donated to combat the disease continue to appear on the shelves of shops and markets, and vaccines often fail to reach those most in need. These incidents not only waste precious resources but also erode public trust in health programs and discourage further international support.
Toward Health Sovereignty: Lessons Nigeria Must Learn
Nigeria’s precarious situation underscores the need to build a resilient, self-reliant healthcare system. The country must learn from nations like Cuba, which, despite decades of economic isolation, developed one of the world’s most robust primary healthcare systems. By investing in preventive care, health worker training, and local pharmaceutical production, Cuba significantly boosted the health and well-being of its population.
To emulate such success, Nigeria must prioritize the following:
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Boost Local Production of Medicines and Vaccines:
Nigeria must end its overdependence on imported drugs and begin developing homegrown pharmaceutical capacity. This includes revamping research institutions and encouraging collaboration between academia and industry. Public-private partnerships and targeted government grants can support this effort. -
Invest in Healthcare Workforce:
The mass emigration of Nigerian health professionals to countries with better working conditions, known as “brain drain,” must be addressed. Nigeria should offer competitive salaries, create a conducive work environment, and provide career growth opportunities to retain its medical talent. -
Combat Corruption and Ensure Accountability:
The healthcare sector must be insulated from corruption. Mechanisms to track healthcare funding, deliverables, and outcomes should be strengthened. Officials found diverting health resources must face legal consequences to deter mismanagement. -
Universal Healthcare Access:
Access to healthcare should not depend on a citizen’s economic status. Government policy should prioritize vulnerable populations, ensuring that essential services such as maternal care, immunizations, and emergency response are available in every community. -
Cut Down on Medical Tourism:
It is shameful that political leaders routinely seek treatment abroad while public hospitals at home are underfunded and underequipped. The government must invest in local health infrastructure so that Nigerians—including the elite—can receive quality care within the country. -
Public Awareness and Health Education:
The government must intensify efforts to educate the public on preventive health practices. Health campaigns that target hygiene, immunization, nutrition, and disease prevention can significantly reduce disease burdens.
Conclusion: A Tipping Point for Healthcare Reform
The partial withdrawal of U.S. support for global health services should serve as a wake-up call for Nigeria. The era of endless donor dependency is coming to an end, and the country must now make difficult yet necessary decisions to secure its health future. Nigeria has both the human and material resources to build a sustainable health system—but only if there is political will, policy focus, and zero tolerance for corruption.
If the government acts decisively now—by strengthening local capacity, investing in health infrastructure, and promoting transparency—it can not only weather the current funding crisis but emerge stronger and more self-sufficient. The health and survival of over 200 million Nigerians depend on it.
