Nigerian legislators have greenlighted an extra $200 million allocation for the health sector as part of their budget strategy for 2025, aiming to counterbalance the impact of reduced aid from the United States.

With a population exceeding 200 million, Nigeria is the most populous nation in Africa and was among the leading beneficiaries of support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in the year 2023. Recently, the USAID funding has been put on hold for a span of 90 days due to actions taken by the Trump administration.

During a budget meeting in parliament, Senator Adeola Olamilekan, who chairs the senate appropriations committee, highlighted the potential negative consequences that could arise from the cut in U.S. foreign aid, particularly in areas related to disease management and control.

The newly authorized $200 million is part of a broader $36.6 billion federal budget. The legislation, passed on Thursday, aims to address the financial shortfall resulting from the suspension of U.S. intervention in the health sector. A significant portion of these funds will go toward providing vaccines and treatments for various epidemic illnesses.

In the year 2023, the U.S. invested upwards of $600 million in health support for Nigeria, primarily focusing on malaria prevention, HIV eradication, and vaccine distribution, as highlighted by the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria.

The freeze on financial support from the United States may also carry repercussions in other areas, particularly regarding humanitarian efforts in the northeast region, where an insurgency led by Islamic extremists has been ongoing since 2009. This conflict has resulted in widespread violence and has extended into neighboring countries such as Chad, Niger, and Cameroon.

For instance, USAID was involved in collaborative projects with the U.N. migration agency in Nigeria, specifically under its Rapid Response Fund initiative, which aims to tackle urgent issues like shelter, sanitation, and protection in areas affected by conflict.