By Citizenship Newspaper
The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the utilisation of over $4.6 billion in health grants received by Nigeria between 2021 and 2025 from the Global Fund and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for the fight against HIV, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Philip Agbese, who noted that despite the huge financial support from international partners, Nigeria continues to record alarming rates of deaths and infections linked to the three major diseases.
Agbese disclosed that the country received an estimated $1.8 billion from the Global Fund between 2021 and 2025, and over $2.8 billion from USAID between 2022 and 2024 for various health interventions, including HIV, malaria, polio, and tuberculosis control.
He further expressed concern that Nigeria also benefited from over $6 billion in health assistance under the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) during the same period, yet remains among countries with the highest global burden of these diseases.
“Despite these massive investments, Nigeria still ranks third globally in HIV-related deaths, first in Africa for tuberculosis, and bears the world’s highest malaria burden,” Agbese lamented.
The lawmaker warned that if urgent steps were not taken to reassess and reevaluate the implementation of the funds, Nigeria risks failing to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal target of eliminating HIV, TB, and Malaria by 2030.
The House consequently mandated its Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Control to investigate the utilisation of the grants and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
It also directed the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare to submit the ministry’s implementation plan and evidence of National Assembly approvals for the utilisation and expenditure of the funds.
