The House of Representatives has resolved to probe the utilisation of over $4.6 billion in donor grants received by Nigeria for the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, as well as for strengthening the nation’s health systems.

The decision followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by the Deputy Spokesperson of the House, Hon. Philip Agbese (APC, Benue) at Tuesday’s plenary.

Moving the motion titled: “Need to Investigate the Over $1.8 Billion Dollar Grant and $2.8 Billion Received by Nigeria from Global Fund and USAID from 2021 to 2025,” Agbese said Nigeria had benefited “immensely” from international donor support but continued to record poor outcomes in its response to the three major public health challenges.

He outlined that, Nigeria received an estimated $1.8 billion in grants from the Global Fund from 2021 to 2025 for combating HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria, in addition to $2.8 billion from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) between 2022 and 2024 to address health threats including HIV, malaria, polio, and tuberculosis.

Agbese also disclosed that, the country also benefited from over $6 billion in health assistance from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) within the same period to fight HIV/AIDS and build the capacity of community and health systems.

He expressed concern that despite the massive investments, Nigeria still bears a disproportionate share of the global burden of the diseases.

“In 2023, about 15,000 AIDS-related deaths occurred among Nigerian children aged 0–14 years, while 51,000 AIDS-related deaths were recorded nationwide. Nigeria ranks third globally in HIV deaths and has the highest number of HIV cases in West and Central Africa,” Agbese stated.

He added that Nigeria ranks first in Africa and sixth globally in tuberculosis burden, accounting for 4.6 percent of the global TB load, while it bears the highest malaria burden in the world, representing about 26.6 percent of global cases and 31 percent of malaria deaths.

The lawmaker warned that unless the trend is reversed, Nigeria risks failing to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 target of eliminating HIV, TB, and malaria by 2030.

Agbese also lamented the lack of “coordinated and robust oversight” of the implementers of the grants by the National Assembly, noting that under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the legislature has the power to summon any government ministry, agency, or non-governmental body for accountability.

“With the 8th replenishment of the Global Fund in view, if something drastic is not done to reassess and reevaluate the utilisation of these grants, Nigeria may continue to suffer huge public health losses,” he warned.

Adopting the motion, the House mandated its Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Control to investigate the utilisation of the grants received by Nigeria between 2021 and 2025 and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.

It also directed the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare to submit the implementation plan and all approvals granted by the National Assembly for the expenditure of the donor funds.