The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has reported a significant milestone, with 19.2 million Nigeriansnow enrolled in health insurance programs at both the national and state levels. This represents a 14% increase from the previous enrollment figure of 16.7 million. According to the NHIA’s Director General, Kelechi Ohiri, the agency aims to achieve a further 20% increase in enrollment by 2025, marking a crucial step toward expanding healthcare access nationwide.
While the increase in enrollment is a positive development, Ohiri expressed concern over the fragmented nature of Nigeria’s health insurance system, which currently includes 83 private insurers and 37 state health insurance agencies. This fragmentation, he noted, poses a significant challenge in creating a unified and efficient healthcare framework for the country.
Speaking at the NHIA’s end-of-year briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, Ohiri acknowledged the agency’s progress in healthcare reform. He attributed this success to strong collaboration with state health insurance schemes and various stakeholders. He also highlighted key initiatives, including the Fistula Care Program, which provides free treatment for women suffering from obstetric fistula, and the Saving One Million Lives (SIGOP) program, aimed at reducing maternal deaths by removing financial barriers during emergencies.
“When women face life-threatening obstetric complications, financial constraints should never hinder their survival,” Ohiri emphasized. “We waive costs to ensure immediate care and subsequent enrollment into health insurance.”
He further noted that the NHIA had successfully expanded access to Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC) services across over 100 facilities nationwide.
Despite these successes, the NHIA Director General expressed concerns about the fragmented health insurance system, which he said needed public trust, regulatory compliance, and heightened awareness to increase enrollment. “Trust is crucial,” he said. “Nigerians need to know that being insured guarantees access to care.”
To address rising medical costs, the NHIA has increased capitation rates by 60% and professional fees by 40%. Actuarial studies are also underway to ensure that premiums align with industry standards.
Looking ahead, Ohiri shared the NHIA’s ambitious targets for 2025, which include increasing enrollment by 20%, expanding access to CEmONC services, and collaborating with the National Pension Commission (PenCom) to extend health insurance to retirees. Additionally, the NHIA plans to launch a fully digital platform for enrollment, claims submission, and complaint management to improve efficiency and user experience.
The agency has also signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with 11 hospitals and partnered with organizations like the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the African Center for Population Health Policy to sustain progress.
In his closing remarks, Ohiri reiterated the NHIA’s commitment to creating a health system where every Nigerian, regardless of their socioeconomic status, has access to quality healthcare. “We are not just building a scheme; we are redefining healthcare delivery in Nigeria,” he said.
Meanwhile, Habib Abdulhameed, Acting Director of Enforcement, revealed that the NHIA had received 2,591 complaints between January and October 2024. Of these, 1,678 were against healthcare providers, and 913 were directed at the NHIA itself. The NHIA achieved an 82% resolution rate for complaints, which Abdulhameed attributed to the agency’s decentralized complaint handling system at the state level. The NHIA also sanctioned 100 healthcare providersfor non-compliance, with 97 cases resolved through various actions, including warnings, fines, and suspensions.
