The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has announced a significant milestone in Nigeria’s drive toward Universal Health Coverage, with total health insurance enrollment rising to 22.03 million citizens. This figure marks a 35% year-on-year growth, signaling that the implementation of mandatory health insurance is gaining substantial traction across the country.


Driving Force Behind the Milestone


The Director-General of the NHIA, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, disclosed these figures during the Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Association of Insurance and Pension Editors (NAIPE) in Lagos. According to Dr. Ohiri, the growth in enrollment is the result of a deliberate shift from policy formulation to rigorous, accountable implementation. Key drivers of this surge include:


  • Expanded Partnerships: Enhanced collaboration between the NHIA, State Social Health Insurance Agencies (SSHIAs), and various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
  • Sectoral Engagement: Wider adoption of insurance packages within the organized private sector, labor unions, and among micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises.
  • Mandatory Provisions: The gradual enforcement of the mandatory health insurance requirements outlined in the NHIA Act, which has integrated insurance compliance into federal procurement and licensing processes.

Improving Service Quality and Enrollee Experience


Beyond enrollment numbers, the NHIA is prioritizing measurable improvements in healthcare delivery. The authority has introduced stricter service benchmarks and regulatory oversight to ensure enrollees receive high-quality care:


  • Enhanced Financial Support: To ensure sustainability and quality, the NHIA has increased capitation payments to healthcare providers by 93%, while fee-for-service reimbursements have risen by 378%.
  • Consumer Protection: The Authority has successfully resolved over 3,878 complaints with an 87% resolution rate. Additionally, ₦14.2 million has been refunded to enrollees who were unfairly overcharged or denied services.
  • Service Standards: New protocols include a mandatory one-hour target for the commencement of treatment for patients requiring urgent medical attention.
  • Quality Assessment: To date, 7,592 healthcare facilities have been assessed under the SafeCare quality framework to ensure they meet the infrastructure and personnel standards required for accredited service delivery.

Targeted Interventions for Vulnerable Groups


The NHIA’s reform agenda emphasizes financial protection for the most vulnerable citizens. Current interventions include dedicated support for more than 48,500 pregnant women, as well as specialized programs for pensioners, retirees, and victims of obstetric fistula. By focusing on these populations, the NHIA aims to reduce the number of Nigerians pushed into poverty annually due to catastrophic out-of-pocket health expenditures.


With the necessary legislative and policy frameworks now in place, Dr. Ohiri emphasized that the focus remains on consistent, transparent execution to ensure these reforms translate into tangible health outcomes for every Nigerian.