The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Monday approved an allocation of N4.8 billion for the procurement of HIV treatment packs to support Nigerians living with HIV/AIDS.
The approval follows an emergency humanitarian waiver granted by the US government, reversing a previous funding pause on HIV treatment in developing countries, including Nigeria.
This pause had been ordered under an executive directive by former US President Donald Trump as part of a broader review of foreign aid.
Nigeria has been heavily reliant on international assistance, particularly from the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), to fund HIV initiatives.
The N4.8 billion allocation will facilitate the procurement of 150,000 treatment packs over the next four months, providing immediate relief and demonstrating Nigeria’s commitment to building a more sustainable domestic financing model for health interventions.
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At a FEC meeting, Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, emphasised the significance of the allocation in ensuring uninterrupted access to life-saving treatment for those living with HIV.
“This allocation is critical for ensuring that those living with HIV continue to receive necessary treatments without interruption,” Pate said.
The FEC also established a committee, comprising members from the ministries of Finance, Budget, Defence, Environment, and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), to develop a sustainability plan.
“This is about ensuring that no Nigerian loses access to treatment during this period of adjustment,” Pate added.
Addressing the recent policy shift by the US, Pate noted Nigeria’s appreciation for the contributions of the American government over the last two decades but reiterated the country’s focus on transforming its health sector using national systems and domestic financing.
In addition to the HIV treatment allocation, Pate announced that the FEC had approved the HOPE (Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity) programme, a $1 billion initiative aimed at enhancing governance and strengthening primary healthcare systems across Nigeria.
“This programme is very much in line with the direction of this administration—to focus on investing in the human capital of Nigerians. People are at the centre of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
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The initiative, developed in collaboration with the International Development Association (IDA), allocates $500 million for governance improvements and another $500 million to enhance primary healthcare,” Pate stated.
The governance component of the programme will incentivize states to recruit and train teachers and healthcare workers, while the healthcare portion will focus on expanding primary healthcare services, improving quality, and boosting resilience.
