The Nigerian government is in discussions with Zipline International Inc to expand its drone-based medical delivery services nationwide following the suspension of US aid to Africa.
The move comes as the federal government accelerates efforts to close healthcare gaps and improve access to critical medicines across the country.
Zipline, a US-based logistics and drone delivery firm, is in active negotiations with federal authorities to scale its operations as part of a broader strategy to strengthen domestic healthcare infrastructure.
According to Eniitan Tejuoso, a senior adviser to President Bola Tinubu on healthcare modernization, the talks are focused on improving the distribution of essential medical goods such as blood vaccines and critical medications.
He noted that Nigeria has allocated $200 million in its 2025 budget to support expanded healthcare services and mitigate the impact of reduced external support.
In 2024, Nigeria received $790 million in aid from the United States. However, following President Donald Trump’s return to office, US foreign assistance to Africa was halted, cutting off $13.4 billion in annual support.
The decision disrupted multiple health initiatives, including HIV, tuberculosis and malaria programs affecting millions of patients across several African countries.
Caitlin Burton, senior vice president at Zipline, confirmed the company’s readiness to fill emerging supply gaps in Nigeria.
She stated that Nigerian officials are seeking long-term solutions that do not rely on unstable external support.
She also highlighted that Zipline is building a self-sustaining public-private partnership hub in Cross River State, scheduled to begin operations in the third quarter.
Bong Duke, chief executive officer of the Cross River Planning Commission, said the new distribution hub will include a training facility and serve as a central base for expanding drone deliveries to neighboring regions.
He explained the need for Nigeria to reduce dependency on foreign assistance in critical sectors such as healthcare.
“With the withdrawal of USAID we might experience short-term challenges but we are planning to address them. The goal is to build resilience and become self-reliant” Duke said.
Zipline, which was founded in 2014 and headquartered in San Francisco, also operates in Rwanda, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Kenya.
The company is in advanced discussions to enter two additional African markets as part of its continental growth strategy.
Burton declined to provide financial details on the Nigeria expansion project but confirmed that multiple state-level engagements are ongoing.
Nigeria’s strategy reflects a broader shift toward public-private partnerships to solve long-standing inefficiencies in health delivery systems. With the growing demand for accessible and timely medical logistics drone-enabled solutions like Zipline’s are gaining traction among policymakers.
Analysts believe the success of this initiative could redefine healthcare logistics in Nigeria while setting a model for other developing economies facing similar funding disruptions.
