Health Ministry, UNOPS Face Allegations of Non-Compliance with Court Order on $62m Malaria Funds

Sixteen months after a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) to transfer $62 million earmarked for malaria interventions into an interest-yielding account under the court’s control, questions are mounting over compliance with the order. According to reports by Tribune Online, the funds were meant to tackle malaria, a leading cause of death in Nigeria. However, the FMOH and UNOPS have not yet complied with the court order. This non-compliance has raised concerns about the commitment to combat malaria, a critical health issue in Nigeria. The court order was issued in May 2021 following a suit filed by a coalition of civil society organizations led by the Public Interest Law Partners (PILP). The suit was brought against the FMOS, UNOPS, and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) over their alleged failure to release the funds for malaria interventions. The FMOH and UNOPS have not commented on the non-compliance allegations. This story matters to Nigerians because the funds were intended for a critical health issue that disproportionately affects the country’s population. Compliance with the court order is crucial for the effective implementation of malaria interventions.