The director-general of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr. Kelechi Ohiri has announced that the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) now supports over 2.67 million Nigerians, marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to expand access to healthcare for its most vulnerable citizens.
Ohiri made this known during an interaction with journalists following an oversight session by the House of Representatives Committee on Health Services in Abuja on Thursday. He briefed lawmakers on the progress NHIA has made in recent months, including expanded enrolment and major policy reforms designed to strengthen Nigeria’s health insurance ecosystem.
According to him, about 800,000 new beneficiaries were added to the BHCPF programme in 2025 alone, signalling growing public confidence in the fund and improved coordination between federal and state-level health institutions.
“This expansion of the BHCPF is a direct reflection of our commitment to delivering basic healthcare to those who need it most. It also demonstrates the power of strategic partnerships in strengthening Nigeria’s primary healthcare system,” he stated.
In addition to the BHCPF’s reach, Ohiri announced a significant increase in national health insurance enrolment.
“As of this year, over 20 million Nigerians are now covered under health insurance schemes—an increase from 16.8 million in 2023,” he said. “Our latest figures, presented at the recent senior management retreat, show that through collaborative efforts with state social health insurance agencies (SSHIA) and health maintenance organisations (HMOs), we now have 20,028,320 enrollees.”
He said this progress aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s health sector goals and puts Nigeria on track to exceed the 2027 national target for universal health coverage.
Ohiri further highlighted key achievements under NHIA’s current leadership. These include enhanced coverage of vulnerable groups, with more than 7,500 women accessing care through the Fistula-Free Initiative and emergency obstetric services.
He also noted the successful integration of HIV and tuberculosis (TB) services into the health insurance framework in five pilot states – marking the first time donor-funded disease programmes have been mainstreamed into Nigeria’s health insurance system.
The NHIA boss confirmed that health insurance schemes are now active in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), reinforcing access to affordable care at the grassroots level.
Another major reform, he said, was the completion of a long-awaited actuarial review, which led to a 93 per cent increase in capitation rates and a 378 per cent hike in fee-for-service payments – moves designed to incentivise service providers and improve quality of care.
To reduce delays in authorisations, NHIA has introduced a one-hour code mandate for HMOs and hospitals to process treatment approvals. He also reported a significant improvement in the resolution of user complaints, with over 80 per cent of reported issues addressed in 2024 – a 21 per cent increase over previous years.
Ohiri concluded by stressing the importance of inclusion, highlighting the Group, Individual, and Family Social Health Insurance Programme (GIFSHIP) as a model tailored for market women, artisans, students, retirees and informal sector workers. “Health insurance is for everyone. No Nigerian should be left behind,” he said.
