The House of Representatives has begun an investigation into over $1.8 billion and $2.8 billion grants received by Nigeria from the Global Fund and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) between 2021 and 2025 for the fight against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.
Speaking during the inauguration of the House Committee on Infectious Diseases on Monday in Abuja, the Chairman, Hon. Amobi Ogah, said the public hearing became necessary to find out how the huge grants were used. He emphasized that about 90 per cent of Nigeria’s intervention funds for these diseases came from international partners, and there was a need to ensure accountability in managing such funds.
Ogah said the investigation would help the government determine how the funds had been utilized and ensure transparency in tackling infectious diseases that continue to affect millions of Nigerians. He warned that Nigeria would no longer accept being a “mere spectator” in managing grants provided by foreign donors, insisting that donor funds must henceforth align with Nigeria’s health priorities.
“Nigeria continues to be battered by the ill effects of a greater burden of HIV, Tuberculosis, Malaria and other numerous infectious diseases,” Ogah said. “It appears that while budgetary allocations and donor funds are mobilised for the response against these health challenges, there is no reprieve in sight as Nigerians are ravaged daily.”
He added, “Any grant or assistance being given to us without us managing such grant is unacceptable. If they would not give us such grants and assistance on our terms, then let them keep their grants. We must assert our capacity to take charge of our affairs, particularly in the response against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The era of spending Nigeria’s money without approval and accountability is over.”
Ogah also revealed that the House was working to amend the NACA Establishment Bill to transform the agency into a multi-sectoral body with an expanded mandate. He noted that with the 8th replenishment of the Global Fund expected this month, Nigeria must move away from dependency and inefficiency in managing donor resources.
“We must maximise and efficiently utilise the resources at our disposal by cutting out all forms of duplication and wastage, while allocating domestic resources to areas that will present greater value for Nigerians,” he said.
The committee, he explained, would collaborate closely with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to ensure that principal recipients and implementing partners of all grants are held accountable. “This is even more critical when you consider that some funding for terrorist activities has been traced to grants and donor funds,” Ogah added.
Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Ali Pate, described the investigation as a step toward transparency, accountability, and domestic ownership of health programmes. He called for a gradual reduction in Nigeria’s reliance on foreign aid in financing the fight against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.
Pate said Nigeria must take greater responsibility for funding its health priorities as donor support declines after two decades. He noted that while foreign assistance has saved millions of lives, Nigeria’s health spending remains below 15 per cent of the Abuja Declaration target, warning that underfunding threatens sustainability.
Declaring the event open, the Speaker of the House, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, said the probe reflects the parliament’s commitment to ensuring transparency in health funding and effective use of donor support.
