The House of Representatives on Tuesday resolved to investigate the utilisation of over $4.6 billion in foreign 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.
The decision followed the adoption of a motion moved by Rep. Philip Agbese (APC/Benue), who expressed concern that, despite the massive international funding support, Nigeria still ranks among the worst-affected countries in the world for the three major diseases.
According to Rep. Agbese, Nigeria has received an estimated $1.8 billion in grants from the Global Fund between 2021 and 2025, in addition to over $2.8 billion from USAID between 2022 and 2024 for interventions covering HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, and polio.
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He also revealed that the country benefited from more than $6 billion in health assistance from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) during the same period.
Despite these huge inflows, the House member lamented that Nigeria remains a global hotspot for the three diseases.
He noted that in 2023 alone, about 15,000 Nigerian children aged 0–14 died from AIDS-related causes, while total AIDS-related deaths in the country stood at 51,000, ranking Nigeria third globally in HIV deaths.
Rep. Agbese added that the country currently ranks first in Africa and sixth worldwide in tuberculosis burden, accounting for 4.6% of global TB cases, while also carrying the highest malaria burden globally, responsible for an estimated 26.6% of global malaria cases and 31% of malaria deaths.
“With this level of investment in the nation’s response to HIV, TB, and malaria, it is unacceptable that Nigeria still bears such a heavy disease burden,” Rep. Agbese said.
He further expressed worry that there has been no coordinated or robust oversight by the National Assembly over how these funds have been utilised, especially as the eighth replenishment round of the Global Fund approaches.
“If something drastic is not done to reassess and reevaluate the utilization of these grants, Nigeria may continue to lose lives and fail to meet the 2030 target for the elimination of HIV, TB, and malaria,” he warned.
The lawmaker also cited Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which empower the National Assembly to summon any ministry, department, agency, or non-governmental organisation for accountability purposes.
Following debate on the motion, the House mandated its Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Control to investigate the utilisation of all grants received by Nigeria between 2021 and 2025 and to report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
The House also directed the coordinating minister of health and social welfare to submit the implementation plan and approvals granted by the National Assembly for the utilisation and expenditure of the grants.
