Nearly N400 billion, or 20 percent of Nigeria’s 2026 health budget, depends on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) technical support, funding, and disease-surveillance operations. This has raised concerns among experts who believe that the United States’ exit from the global organisation could affect the speed and efficiency of health policy interventions in Nigeria.
From disease surveillance to strategic partnerships in vaccine programmes, training, and medical research, WHO plays a critical role in Nigeria’s health sector. However, with the United States’ withdrawal from the organisation, experts warn that the country’s health budget could come under significant strain.
BusinessDay analysis shows that about 12 items in the 2026 health budget rely on WHO’s technical support, international donor funding, policy guidance, and adherence to global standards. These items together amount to nearly N400 billion, representing about one-fifth of the N2.1 trillion proposed health budget for 2026.
For instance, the allocation for the National Blood Bank Service Commission, item 142 of the 2026 proposed health budget,worth N42.8 billion, largely depends on WHO’s technical support. Blood screening, safety standards, and quality assurance are critical aspects of the commission’s operations and are guided by WHO protocols.
Similarly, the allocation for the National Centre for Disease Control,item 90 of the 2026 proposed health budget,worth N22.4 billion, is heavily dependent on WHO’s technical capacity. Disease surveillance, health-emergency coordination, and laboratory safety standards are largely WHO-led, and any weakening of this capacity could undermine Nigeria’s preparedness for disease outbreaks or pandemics.
Ebuta Agbor, vice president of the Medical Initiative for Africa, expressed similar concerns, warning that Nigeria may need to draw up a supplementary health budget to address potential funding and capacity gaps.
“The withdrawal of the United States from WHO could have significant and unprecedented impacts on sub-Saharan Africa, as over 50 percent of countries in the region allocate less than five percent of their annual budgets to the health sector,” he said.
On the contrary, some budget items, including allocations to Federal Medical Centres, teaching hospitals, and psychiatric and orthopaedic hospitals, are not directly dependent on WHO support, according to BusinessDay analysis.
Recall that U.S. President Donald Trump officially announced on January 22, 2026, that the United States had completed its withdrawal procedures from WHO. As the organisation’s largest donor,contributing between $500 million and $700 million annually, representing 15 to 18 percent of its funding,the U.S. exit has raised concerns among experts about increased health security risks for many African countries.
Winners, losers of US exit from WHO
While some experts have raised concerns about the impact of the United States’ withdrawal from WHO on Nigeria’s health system, others argue that it presents an opportunity for the country to become more self-reliant and exercise greater control by dealing directly with the U.S.
Oyebade Funmilade, a public health specialist and expert in HIV/AIDS prevention and control, highlighted an increased disease burden as one of the possible impacts of the U.S. withdrawal from WHO in Nigeria.
“The HIV disease burden could spike if the PEPFAR programme slows its operations due to a shortage of funds,” he noted.
“However, it also creates an opportunity for increased investment in pharmaceutical research and the promotion of local products, thereby reducing our dependence on external sources,” he added.
Neto Ikpeme, a health economist and analyst, pointed out that although the U.S. withdrawal from WHO might affect some ongoing health programmes, it also offers Nigeria an opportunity to deal directly with the United States. He referenced a $2.1 billion five-year health partnership deal between Nigeria and the U.S. signed in December 2025.
“Although the U.S. withdrawal from WHO could slow the progress of some ongoing health programmes, it also presents an opportunity for direct partnerships with foreign partners, giving the country more control, as seen in the recent $2.1 billion deal signed by both countries,” he added.
In addition, African countries with relatively higher health budget allocations, such as Rwanda (18.8 percent), Botswana (17.8 percent), and Niger (17.8 percent), are better positioned to experience minimal disruption from the United States’ exit, according to WHO. In contrast, countries with significantly lower health spending, including Nigeria (4.2 percent), South Sudan (2.1 percent), and Cameroon (2.8 percent), are likely to face greater adverse impacts.
Increased budget, reduced percentage allocation
Nigeria’s health budget increased by 157.4 percent, from N816 billion in 2022 to N2.1 trillion in 2026, BusinessDay analysis shows.
However, the percentage share of the health budget allocation remained relatively stable over the five-year period but declined by 1.3 percentage, from 5.5 percent in 2025 to 4.2 percent in 2026.
Stakeholders in the health sector have raised concerns, noting that the allocation does not meet the Maputo Declaration target of 15 percent annually.
Taiwo Obindo, President of the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APIN), highlighted the impact of low funding in the health sector.
“Nigeria’s health budget falls short of the Maputo Declaration target of 15 percent, further putting the country’s health system at risk of poor emergency response and threats to lives,” he noted.
