The President Bola Tinubu-led government has approved N4.8 billion for the procurement of 150,000 HIV treatment packs.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) stated that this is to ensure continuous care for those living with the virus amid Donald Trump’s executive order to temporarily suspend funding to a donor organisation that provides AIDS relief in Nigeria.

At the FEC meeting on Monday, February 3, 2025, Trump’s executive order raised concerns over the potential impact of recent US policy shifts on the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS (PEPFAR), a major source of HIV funding in Nigeria.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, mentioned the importance of sustaining HIV treatment efforts, particularly as international aid dynamics shift.

Pate noted that while global partners have played a crucial role in providing treatment support, the federal government is now taking deliberate steps to invest in life-saving interventions for People Living with HIV (PLHIV) in Nigeria.

“This is an important signal that the federal government is committed to ensuring that life-saving treatments remain accessible, despite the changing dynamics in external support,” Mr Pate said.

The fight against HIV/AIDS in Nigeria has been significantly supported by international donors, particularly PEPFAR, which has provided billions of dollars in funding over the past two decades.

However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently granted an “emergency humanitarian waiver,” allowing PEPFAR to resume operations in 55 countries, including Nigeria.