In a significant development for Nigeria’s public health sector, U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria Richard Mills Jr. inaugurated a state-of-the-art tuberculosis (TB) modular laboratory at the Defence Reference Laboratory in Mogadishu Cantonment, Asokoro, Abuja.
The event, attended by key officials including Minister of State for Defence Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle and Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa, highlighted the deepening collaboration between the United States and Nigeria in the fight against infectious diseases.
Ambassador Mills, who recently took up his post in Nigeria, described the ceremony as one of his first major public engagements since arriving in the country seven weeks ago. “Nigeria is indeed the giant of the continent – boasting the largest population, the largest democracy, and one of the largest economies in Africa,” he remarked, underscoring the importance of U.S. investment in Nigeria’s health sector.
He revealed that Nigeria hosts the largest U.S. health programming budget globally, which is funded by the American people. This substantial investment supports a wide range of initiatives aimed at combating diseases like HIV, malaria, mpox, and tuberculosis.
The Ambassador praised the partnership between Nigeria’s Ministry of Defence and the U.S. Department of Defence, particularly in enhancing global health security. Citing the COVID-19 pandemic, he reiterated the importance of global cooperation in health: “No one is truly safe until everyone is safe.”
Highlighting the longstanding efforts of the Ministry of Defence’s Health Implementation Program, Mills stated, “The work your Ministry has done over the past 19 years… is truly commendable.” He further emphasized that the newly commissioned laboratory is a “game-changer” for Nigeria, improving the nation’s ability to diagnose TB not just for military personnel but for all Nigerians.
The event also saw participation from leaders of the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigerian Center for Disease Control, reflecting the initiative’s far-reaching impact.
Concluding his remarks, Ambassador Mills expressed his eagerness to continue strengthening the U.S.-Nigeria partnership in health. “It truly is an honor to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and to work alongside such dedicated partners,” he said.
