ABUJA, Nigeria (FN) — Nigeria’s House of Representatives has raised alarm over the country’s persistently high rates of HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, despite receiving more than 4.6 billion Dollars in international health aid in recent years.
During a plenary session Tuesday, lawmakers voted to investigate how grants and donations from the Global Fund and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) were utilized between 2021 and 2025. The funds were intended to support Nigeria’s response to HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other public health challenges.
Rep. Amobi Ogah, who sponsored the motion, said Nigeria remains among the countries with the highest rates of these diseases globally, despite consistent donor support. The motion was read by Deputy House Spokesman Philip Agbese.
Ogah said Nigeria received approximately 1.8 billion Dolars from the Global Fund between 2021 and 2024 to strengthen its Resilient and Sustainable Systems for Health initiative. USAID contributed more than 2.8 billion Dollars during the same period to support HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria and other community health programs.
He also cited the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has invested more than 6 billion Dollars in Nigeria’s HIV/AIDS response since its inception.
Despite these efforts, Ogah said Nigeria recorded 51,000 AIDS-related deaths in 2023, including 15,000 children under age 14, placing the country third globally. He added that Nigeria accounts for 26.6% of global malaria cases, 31% of malaria deaths and ranks sixth worldwide for tuberculosis.
“These disturbing realities show that despite billions of dollars in donor support, Nigeria still grapples with preventable diseases,” Ogah said. “There’s an urgent need to ensure that funds are properly utilized and that measurable results are achieved.”
The House directed its Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Control to investigate the management of all Global Fund and USAID health grants disbursed during the period and report back within four weeks.
Civil society organizations and non-governmental groups have repeatedly called for greater transparency and accountability in the use of foreign health aid, warning that poor oversight undermines efforts to combat preventable diseases.
