Nigeria’s Parliament Probes $4.6 Billion Health Aid Over Poor Disease Outcomes

By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu

Nigeria’s House of Representatives has opened an investigation into the management of $4.6 billion in international health aid grants received between 2021 and 2025, following concerns that the funds failed to significantly reduce deaths from HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.

Lawmakers on Wednesday debated a motion calling for urgent oversight and accountability after reports showed persistently high mortality rates despite years of foreign assistance.

The House directed its Committee on HIV/AIDS to review how the grants were utilised and to submit findings within a month, recommending possible legislative action.

The inquiry will cover aid provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, two of Nigeria’s biggest health partners.

Legislators also noted that the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) contributed an additional $6 billion over the same period to support HIV treatment and strengthen health systems.

Despite these interventions, Nigeria recorded about 51,000 AIDS-related deaths in 2023, ranking third globally. The country also accounted for 31% of malaria deaths worldwide and remains sixth in global tuberculosis cases. Lawmakers said the figures reveal deep gaps in monitoring, distribution, and implementation of health projects.

The motion highlighted the urgent need to reassess Nigeria’s health strategies to ensure effective use of donor funds and achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of ending epidemics of major infectious diseases by 2030.

Nigeria has long relied on international health funding to combat communicable diseases, particularly through initiatives supported by the Global Fund, USAID, and PEPFAR.

Since the early 2000s, these programmes have provided billions of dollars for prevention, treatment, and health system strengthening.

However, challenges such as corruption, poor data management, and weak healthcare infrastructure have continued to undermine progress.

With recent global aid cuts, especially following U.S. policy shifts under President Donald Trump’s administration, there are growing fears that inefficiencies and lack of transparency could worsen Nigeria’s public health crisis.

The ongoing parliamentary probe is seen as part of a broader effort to restore accountability in Nigeria’s health sector and ensure that international funds genuinely improve the lives of vulnerable citizens.