Nigeria Could Lose $1.4bn US Health Support Over Christian Persecution Concerns

Nigeria could risk losing access to a fresh $1.4 billion United States health and humanitarian assistance package if the Federal Government fails to demonstrate measurable progress in addressing violence against Christians.

The condition is contained in a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the US and Nigerian governments under the America First Global Health Strategy (AFGHS).

The development could affect Nigeria’s access to a significant portion of the new US funding, particularly assistance earmarked for faith-based healthcare facilities across the country.

The MoU, signed on December 20, 2025, between the US Department of State and the Nigerian government, commits Washington to providing nearly $2.1 billion over five years to strengthen preventive and curative healthcare services in Nigeria.

The programme covers HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, maternal and child healthcare, as well as polio prevention and treatment.

Under the agreement, Nigeria is also expected to increase its domestic healthcare spending by almost $3 billion over the five-year period, described as the largest co-investment by a recipient country under the AFGHS.

However, the agreement contains conditions that could affect Nigeria’s continued access to the funding.

The MoU states that the agreement was “negotiated in connection with reforms the Nigerian government has made to prioritize protecting Christian populations from violence.”

It also provides for “significant dedicated funding” for Christian faith-based healthcare facilities.

The agreement further gives the US President and Secretary of State the authority to suspend or terminate programmes that no longer align with Washington’s national interests.

“As with all foreign assistance, the President and Secretary of State retain the right to pause or terminate any programme which do not align with the national interest, and the Trump administration expects Nigeria to continue to make progress ensuring that it combats extremist religious violence against vulnerable Christian populations,” the document stated.

The funding condition comes amid increasing concerns in the United States over attacks against Christians in parts of Nigeria.

The US House of Representatives recently voted to link American assistance to Nigeria to verifiable actions by the Federal Government aimed at addressing the situation.

The legislation reportedly called on the Nigerian government to take concrete measures to facilitate the return of internally displaced persons to their ancestral communities.

It also urged stronger protection for Christians facing persecution in the Middle Belt and other affected areas.

US Announces $1.4bn Faith-Based Health Package

Meanwhile, Washington has announced $1.4 billion in new funding under the America First Global Health Strategy to support integrated healthcare services through faith-based and community hospitals and clinics in more than 20 countries.

Of the amount, $850 million will be provided through a Faith and Community Initiative Award to World Vision and local faith-based organisations.

The funding is expected to strengthen more than 2,500 faith-based hospitals and clinics across 17 countries, while also supporting the training, payment and equipping of more than 30,000 community health workers.

Another $570 million will be channelled directly to faith-based and community hospitals through bilateral agreements with governments, including Nigeria.

The US Department of State has also announced $538 million in humanitarian assistance for Samaritan’s Purse and a consortium involving World Vision and Compassion International.

The organisations are expected to use the funds to assist about seven million people affected by 16 humanitarian crises.

More than $100 million will be made immediately available for disaster response in 23 countries considered vulnerable to natural disasters.

According to the State Department, the combined $1.4 billion health package represents the largest amount provided to faith-based organisations in more than two decades.

At least 80 per cent of the resources, it said, will be directed towards frontline healthcare services.

Nigeria’s Faith-Based Health Sector in Focus

For Nigeria, the agreement places particular emphasis on Christian faith-based healthcare providers, which the MoU describes as being “uniquely positioned” to complement government-owned health facilities.

About 900 faith-based clinics and hospitals in Nigeria are expected to benefit from the programme. The agreement states that these facilities currently provide healthcare services to more than 30 per cent of Nigerians.

The greater reliance on faith-based healthcare providers forms part of a broader shift by the US towards working with religious and community organisations to deliver health services in countries where they play a significant role in the healthcare system.

In several recipient countries, faith-based providers account for 40 per cent or more of healthcare facilities.

For Nigeria, however, continued access to the new funding could depend on how the Federal Government responds to concerns raised by Washington over violence against Christians.

The US State Department said organisations including Samaritan’s Purse, World Vision and Compassion International were selected because of their experience in responding rapidly to humanitarian crises.

According to the department, the organisations have demonstrated an ability to deploy assistance to conflict zones and disaster-hit communities without lengthy bureaucratic delays.

The new funding therefore combines healthcare and humanitarian assistance while placing greater emphasis on faith-based organisations with established networks in vulnerable communities.