Over 20 Million Nigerians Enrolled In Health Insurance Scheme

The National Health Insurance Authority has announced that more than 20 million Nigerians are now registered under the national health insurance scheme, a step towards expanding healthcare access across the country.

The agency made this known during a sensitisation programme in Ilorin, Kwara State, where officials met with stakeholders to explain ongoing reforms.

The health insurance programme was set up to make healthcare more affordable for Nigerians and reduce the financial burden on families. According to the authority, the plan is to reach 44 million enrollees by 2030, in line with the goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage. The Federal Government has also made health insurance compulsory for every citizen as part of its efforts to improve the nation’s health sector.

Officials explained that the NHIA has reviewed tariffs to improve service delivery. The payment for each enrollee, known as capitation, has been increased from N750 to N1,450. This adjustment, they said, would allow health facilities to deliver better services while keeping care within reach for registered citizens.

The authority is also introducing branded drugs under its medicine initiative. The idea is to ensure that people enrolled in the scheme can access reliable and affordable medicines across the country. Alongside this, the government has launched a one-hour referral authorisation code to cut down waiting time when patients need to be moved from primary to secondary healthcare.

The NHIA Kwara State Coordinator, Hajiya Idayat Bello-Olaitan, said new intervention programmes are also being rolled out. They include emergency obstetric and newborn care to tackle the top causes of maternal deaths such as haemorrhage, sepsis, and obstructed labour. Other projects involve free treatment for fistula patients and support for those with HIV and drug-resistant tuberculosis.

She explained that the authority is starting a monitoring exercise called “Mystery Shopping,” where officials will visit health facilities to ensure patients get the right treatment and that enrollees are not denied quality care. The move is expected to enforce higher standards in hospitals and clinics accredited by the scheme.

The NHIA leadership, under its Director-General Dr Kelechi Ohiri, has raised the bar for accreditation and re-accreditation of health providers to align with modern healthcare needs. The reforms are being introduced despite existing challenges in the system, with the overall aim of improving quality and access nationwide.

The government believes that these efforts, backed by the president’s Renewed Hope Agenda, will build a stronger health system. By making health insurance compulsory and improving the reach of medical services, officials say Nigeria is gradually moving towards ensuring that no citizen is left behind in accessing healthcare.