Senator Shehu Sani has condemned the United States’ formal exit from the World Health Organization (WHO), calling it a “regrettable” setback for international stability. Sani warned that this departure poses a significant risk to the health security of the world’s most vulnerable people.
In a statement shared via his X account on Friday, Sani highlighted the organization’s essential role in upholding global health standards. His comments follow the finalization of the U.S. withdrawal on Thursday, January 22, 2026. The exit concludes a year-long process started by the Trump administration, ending a 78-year partnership with the WHO’s historically largest financial donor.
In response to the announcement, Sani drew attention to the organization’s unique ability to operate in regions that are frequently overlooked by the world’s leading nations.
He described the United States’ departure from the WHO as a “regrettable” event, pointing out that for decades, the agency has served as a vital international mechanism for addressing health crises in every part of the world, including the most isolated communities. Sani concluded by asserting that the WHO is an essential body whose role cannot be filled by any other institution.
The American exit creates a staggering deficit in the WHO’s annual budget, with funding shortfalls estimated in the hundreds of millions. Sani has called upon other international powers to intervene and prevent the collapse of high-stakes initiatives, such as the global fight against polio and malaria, as well as future pandemic preparedness efforts.
Specifically targeting the European Union, China, and the wealthy Gulf nations, Sani urged these regions to shoulder the financial burden left by Washington’s departure. He noted that this shift necessitates a new era of global health leadership.
The U.S. administration—represented by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Secretary of State Marco Rubio—defended the withdrawal by alleging that the WHO mismanaged the COVID-19 crisis and resisted essential institutional reforms. The U.S. has indicated a strategic move away from United Nations frameworks, opting instead for direct bilateral agreements and individual partnerships with NGOs. However, Sani and other critics argue that this decentralized approach risks a fragmented global response to future health threats, potentially stripping a vital safety net from the world’s most isolated communities.
