Billionaire philanthropist and co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates, has raised serious concerns about Nigeria’s low health budget, saying it is too small to handle the country’s growing health problems.
Gates made this known in Lagos during the first Goalkeepers event held by his foundation in Nigeria. He said that with global aid being reduced, Nigeria will likely have even less money for healthcare next year, worsening the country’s already poor health indicators.
“Nigeria spends very little on health,” Gates said. “So it’s not surprising the maternal and child mortality numbers are high. With cuts to aid, the situation may get worse next year.”
He linked the country’s high maternal mortality rate to poor health infrastructure, especially in the northern region, where around half of all births happen at home without skilled medical help. Many clinics cannot perform cesarean sections or handle delivery complications, he added.
“In places like northern Nigeria, when mothers give birth at home or in centres that can’t carry out surgeries, the risk of death increases,” he said.
To help reduce maternal and infant deaths across Africa, including Nigeria, the Gates Foundation and its partners recently launched the \$500 million Beginnings Fund. The fund aims to support low-cost solutions in hospitals with high maternal and newborn death rates.
The initiative focuses on improving treatment for bleeding after childbirth, infections, and breathing difficulties in newborns—three of the top causes of maternal and infant mortality in the region.
While Gates praised the efforts of his foundation and others, he warned that these contributions cannot fill the huge gap left by shrinking global aid. He revealed that countries like Germany and the United Kingdom have also cut back their health funding due to economic pressures and shifting priorities, such as support for Ukraine.
He added, “There’s nobody who can match the kind of funding the U.S. government used to provide. Even if our foundation keeps spending, it won’t be enough to replace that money.”
Gates further warned that cuts to funding for key global organisations like UNICEF, Gavi, and the Global Fund would have serious consequences for Nigeria’s health sector. He said their reduced operations would affect vaccine access, nutrition programmes, and maternal care.
In Nigeria, maternal deaths remain very high—at over 800 deaths per 100,000 live births—according to the World Health Organization. Factors such as poverty, poor nutrition, weak health systems, and cultural practices continue to drive these numbers, particularly in the rural and conflict-affected regions.
Bill Gates also stressed the need for better data systems in Nigerian health facilities. He said hospitals must have access to proper information in order to make smart decisions about the services they provide and the medicines they need.
“Without data, health centres can’t decide where to invest or which services will save the most lives,” he said.
In closing, Gates reaffirmed his foundation’s commitment to ensuring that Nigerian children have the same opportunities as children born in wealthier countries. But he made it clear that achieving this goal will require stronger investments from both the Nigerian government and international partners.
“Nigeria must act now. The cuts in aid are real, and without a strong local response, many lives will be lost unnecessarily,” Gates warned.
