The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, has officially inaugurated the new Governing Council of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), tasking members with advancing Nigeria’s push towards universal health coverage.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony held on Friday in Abuja, Professor Pate described the council members as highly qualified and committed professionals, expressing confidence in their ability to deepen reforms in the health insurance sector. He noted that the council’s newly appointed chair, Dr. Ibrahim Oloriegbe, brings extensive policy experience, having served as a senator and chief sponsor of the NHIA Act.
Dr. Oloriegbe was appointed in March 2025 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to serve a four-year term as council chair. His return to public service follows a notable legislative career during which he sponsored several health-focused bills, including the Mental Health Act and amendments to the Psychiatric Hospitals Act.
Pate emphasized the importance of consolidating NHIA’s recent achievements, particularly in increasing access to healthcare and supporting vulnerable populations through improved insurance frameworks. He urged the new council to focus on sustaining momentum and delivering inclusive, efficient, and accountable health insurance services nationwide.
In his acceptance speech, Dr. Oloriegbe expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve and reaffirmed the board’s commitment to delivering on its mandate with diligence and integrity. He also highlighted his legislative contributions to the Nigerian health sector and pledged to build upon those efforts through his new role.
NHIA Director-General Dr. Kelechi Ohiri reinforced the importance of collective responsibility in achieving universal health coverage. He called on all stakeholders—including public institutions, the private sector, development partners, and communities—to collaborate in building a health system that is resilient, inclusive, and equitable.
Key Milestones and Progress
Dr. Ohiri highlighted several milestones recorded by the NHIA in the past year:
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Increased Enrolment: The number of Nigerians enrolled in health insurance has grown from 16.8 million in 2023 to over 20 million in 2025, moving the country closer to meeting its 2027 coverage targets.
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Support for Vulnerable Populations: More than 2.67 million Nigerians have been enrolled under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), including over 800,000 new enrollees in 2025 alone.
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Expanded Maternal Health Services: Over 7,500 women accessed essential maternal health services—such as obstetric fistula repair and emergency care—through a network of over 200 NHIA-accredited facilities.
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Service Integration and Innovations: The Authority piloted the integration of HIV and tuberculosis services into health insurance coverage in five states, introduced a one-hour referral code system to streamline emergency care, and implemented major tariff reforms.
These reforms include a 93% increase in capitation for providers and a 378% rise in fee-for-service payments, significantly enhancing provider incentives and reducing service delays. Complaint resolution has also improved, with more than 80% of reported issues addressed in 2024.
The inauguration of the new governing council marks a significant step in reinforcing leadership and governance structures within the NHIA as Nigeria works toward a more inclusive and sustainable healthcare financing model.
