…Warns Foreign Aid Is Shrinking, Unsustainable
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has called on Nigeria to reduce its dependence on foreign aid for healthcare financing and instead focus on mobilising and maximising domestic resources to sustain its health system.
Country Director of the Foundation, Uche Amaonwu, made the appeal while moderating a panel session at the Agenda-2025 National Health Financing Dialogue in Abuja, organised by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
Amaonwu warned that continued reliance on Official Development Assistance (ODA) leaves Nigeria vulnerable to shocks, citing recent aid cuts that severely affected national health programmes.
“It’s unfortunate that we had to experience these shocks. ODA should be a catalyst, not the main pillar of our financing. The priority now is to help government unlock more domestic funding,” he said.
Data presented during the dialogue revealed that ODA constitutes only a fraction of Nigeria’s overall health expenditure, a development experts say underscores the urgent need to strengthen internal revenue mobilisation.
Amaonwu noted recent improvements, including increased state allocations and ongoing efforts to give local governments more autonomy, describing them as “signs that Nigeria can take greater ownership of its health priorities.”
Also speaking, Maria Kirova, Africa Head of the Global Fund, stressed that Nigeria must embrace innovative financing instruments, expand health insurance coverage, and reform financial systems to make health funding more resilient.
Kirova explained that the Global Fund has successfully partnered with countries by using blended finance mechanisms—such as concessional loans and interest subsidies—to attract larger, more affordable financing.
“We can help Nigeria access much larger volumes of funding by deploying innovative finance tools and strengthening efficiency in the health sector,” she said.
Similarly, Leila Ben Amor, Head of Cooperation at the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, emphasised that donor financing is increasingly shifting towards partnerships and investments aligned with national priorities.
Health experts at the dialogue agreed that while foreign aid remains important, Nigeria’s future in health financing depends largely on its ability to mobilise domestic resources and ensure efficient utilisation at federal, state, and local government levels.
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