Nigeria Expands Health Insurance Coverage to 20 Million Citizens

By Naija Enquirer Staff

The Federal Government has announced that about 20 million Nigerians are now covered under the national health insurance scheme, a major milestone it aims to more than double by 2030.

Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, disclosed the figures in a post on X (formerly Twitter), describing the progress as part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to achieve universal health coverage across the country.

Pate revealed that Nigeria added more than 2.4 million new enrollees in 2024 alone, the highest annual record in history, and that the government targets reaching 44 million citizens by the end of the decade. He noted that social health insurance schemes now account for 90% of total enrollments nationwide, calling the initiative the “surest path” to reducing out-of-pocket health spending, which still makes up 70% of total health expenditure.

To improve the quality of care, the minister said the government had doubled the capitation fee for enrollees from ₦750 to ₦1,450 per person and increased fee-for-service rates by 380% “to ensure providers deliver consistent, high-quality care.” A new One-Hour Referral Authorisation Code has also been introduced to speed up specialist referrals and reduce treatment delays.

Accountability and Workforce Expansion

Pate explained that covert “mystery shopping” operations are ongoing to monitor healthcare facilities and ensure patients are not denied treatment. He added that hospital visits have risen sharply — from fewer than 10 million in 2023 to over 46 million by mid-2025 — a sign, he said, of growing public trust in the health system.

Since 2023, nearly 120,000 health workers have been trained, and an additional 2,500 doctors, nurses, midwives, and community health workers have been recruited to strengthen frontline care. Federal Tertiary Hospitals have also added 4,000 personnel in the last 16 months to close workforce gaps nationwide.

Pate stated that reforms to the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and the Basic Health Care Provision Fund are already “delivering measurable gains in patient confidence and service utilisation.” He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to modernising health infrastructure, sustaining reforms, and expanding access until “every Nigerian is covered and cared for.”

Public Reactions and Concerns

The minister’s announcement sparked widespread discussion online, with mixed reactions from citizens. While many praised the government’s efforts, others called for more transparency and stronger enforcement.

X user @AdemolaAlade7 suggested creating a public feedback system to reward performing hospitals and sanction non-compliant ones. Another user, @SylvesterIdoga, questioned why “non-civil servants rarely benefit” from the scheme.

Similarly, @olumide_ajala advised the minister to conduct unannounced hospital visits to verify implementation, while @Teekay4lyf1 remarked that the reforms would only gain full credibility “when politicians also access the same healthcare.”

Health professionals also raised concerns about an impending strike by resident doctors. @Dr_statesman asked whether the ministry was taking steps to address their grievances and prevent service disruption.

Despite differing opinions, many users acknowledged that Nigeria’s health insurance coverage is expanding faster than ever before — marking a significant stride toward universal health access for all Nigerians.