The federal executive council (FEC) has approved an allocation of N4.5 billion for the procurement of HIV treatment packs to supportNigerians living with HIV/AIDS.
The approval by FEC comes after the US government granted an emergency humanitarian waiver, reversing a previous funding pause on HIV treatment in developing countries—including Nigeria.
The pause was initially ordered under an executive directive by President Donald Trump as part of a broader review of foreign aid.
Nigeria has been heavily reliant on international assistance for HIV initiatives, particularly from the US president’s emergency plan for AIDS relief (PEPFAR).
The federal government’s approved budget will facilitate the procurement of 150,000 treatment packs over four months.
This initiative aims to provide immediate relief and demonstrate Nigeria’s intent to build a more sustainable domestic financing model for health interventions.
Speaking on the approval on Monday after the FEC meeting, Ali Pate, minister of health and social welfare, said it underscores Nigeria’s commitment to ensuring continuous access to life-saving treatment for individuals affected by the virus.
“This allocation is critical for ensuring that those living with HIV continue to receive necessary treatments without interruption,” Pate said.
The minister said the FEC also set up a committee with membership drawn from the ministries of finance, budget, defence, environment and the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) to come up with a sustainability plan.
“This is about ensuring that no Nigerian loses access to treatment during this period of adjustment,” he said.
