FEC approves ₦4.8bn for HIV treatment amid US aid halt
Following the recent suspension of development assistance by the United States under President Donald Trump’s administration, Senator Adamu Garba, representing Yobe South, has expressed that the potential dissolution of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) could be a positive development for Africa.
In response to the reduction of foreign aid, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved a ₦4.8 billion funding package to continue HIV treatment programs across the country.
This announcement was made by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Muhammad Pate, after the FEC meeting, which was chaired by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
USAID employees are being placed on administrative leave, and the agency’s chief of staff resigned earlier. An internal email revealed that USAID staff who typically work at the agency’s headquarters are now working remotely, except for those with essential on-site responsibilities.
Elon Musk has publicly criticized USAID, labeling it a “criminal organisation” on social media. Speaking on the possible dismantling of the agency, Garba remarked, “This is great news for Africa because USAID has long been used as a tool for unconventional warfare, driven by the United States Special Operations Forces. It has been a means of psychological manipulation, supporting insurgencies and irregular warfare across the continent.”
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He added, “If the dismantling of USAID is successful, we may see greater peace and security in Africa. The flow of weapons that fuel banditry, violence, and destruction will likely cease.”
At the post-FEC media briefing, Dr. Pate confirmed that the ₦4.8 billion would be used to procure 150,000 HIV treatment packs for patients over the next four months. He emphasized that this funding demonstrates the Nigerian government’s ongoing commitment to protecting the health of vulnerable populations, particularly as the country adjusts to the shifting landscape of international aid.
“The Presidential Treatment Programme for HIV patients has been approved, and ₦4.8 billion will go toward securing 150,000 treatment packs for the next four months,” said Pate. “This allocation signals that the government is committed to ensuring continued access to life-saving treatments despite the changing dynamics of external support.”
Pate further acknowledged the substantial role that the U.S. government had played in supporting Nigeria’s fight against HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria over the years. However, he stressed that Nigeria was already taking steps to reduce its dependence on foreign aid. “Even before the U.S. suspended its aid, Nigeria had been moving toward investing its own resources in critical health programs,” he explained.
In response to the concerns about the potential impact of the U.S. aid suspension, Pate assured the public that Nigeria was preparing to manage these changes. The FEC has set up a high-level committee to develop a transition and sustainability plan. The committee will include representatives from various ministries such as Finance, Defence, Health, Environment, Budget, and National Planning, along with members from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).
“The council has agreed to form a committee that will oversee the transition and sustainability plan, particularly as the U.S. conducts its 90-day review of aid policies,” Pate said. “We are optimistic that we will find ways to smoothly adjust to these changes while fortifying our healthcare system.”
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