The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has achieved a significant milestone in expanding access to healthcare, with 19.2 million citizens now covered under health insurance schemes. This accomplishment not only surpasses the 2024 target but also brings the nation to 95 per cent of its ambitious presidential coverage goal for 2027.
The director-general of NHIA, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri announced this achievement on Friday in Abuja during a roundtable event commemorating Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day. The event aimed to reflect on Nigeria’s UHC progress, identify challenges, and develop actionable plans moving forward.
As part of the UHC Day 2024 activities, the Nigeria UHC Forum hosted the roundtable, which included a press briefing, a panel discussion and the establishment of committees focused on innovative financing and facility standards. Additionally, a national UHC monitoring group was unveiled at the event.
Ohiri attributed this success to strategic policy reforms, strong collaborations with stakeholders and a steadfast commitment to universal health coverage (UHC). “We are proud to announce that 19.2 million Nigerians have been covered by health insurance. This surpasses our 2024 target and places us within striking distance of achieving 95 per cent of the 2027 presidential target,” he stated.
He emphasised that the NHIA has worked diligently to implement innovative strategies, such as expanding the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) and partnering with state health insurance agencies to ensure affordable and accessible healthcare for all Nigerians, especially the most vulnerable populations. According to him, this milestone reflects the federal government’s commitment to delivering quality healthcare as outlined in the National Health Act.
He urged state governments and private sector stakeholders to intensify efforts to maintain this momentum and address the remaining gaps in health insurance coverage. This achievement comes amidst ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s healthcare sector, including funding limitations, infrastructure deficits and a shortage of human resources. However, the NHIA DG expressed optimism, noting that the agency’s strategic roadmap for 2025–2027 includes scaling up digital enrollment processes and integrating informal sector workers into the insurance scheme.
Speaking on this year’s UHC Day theme, he remarked that healthcare should reflect the type of government in place and should prioritise decisions that align with the nation’s aspirations. “We should prioritise Primary Health Care (PHC), as it is the foundation of our health system,” he added.
Commissioner for health in Yobe State, Dr. Muhammad Lawal asserted that UHC is an achievable goal, and efforts must be made toward it. He emphasised the importance of not negotiating the health of the population, particularly for vulnerable groups.
Dr. Bolanle Olusola-Faleye from the USAID LHSS Project highlighted that this is a remarkable time to celebrate UHC Day 2024, with crucial reforms such as the sector-wide approach (SWAP) being implemented. Olusola-Faleye pointed out that SWAP has demonstrated success in states through a harmonised annual operational plan (AOP), ensuring alignment of health priorities.
Public health advocates praised the progress as a significant step toward achieving UHC in Nigeria. Co-convener of the UHC2023 Forum, Dr. Garfa Alawode stated, “This is a commendable accomplishment, but there is still much more to do to ensure that every Nigerian can access affordable and quality healthcare services.”
As Nigeria moves closer to its 2027 health insurance target, Alawode called for sustained political will, increased funding, and effective monitoring to ensure that the advancements are maintained and lead to improved health outcomes for all citizens.
It is important to note that UHC Day 2024, observed annually on December 12, serves as a global advocacy day intended to raise awareness about the significance of equitable, affordable, and accessible healthcare for all individuals without financial hardship. The theme for UHC Day often aligns with global health priorities, focusing on strengthening health systems, addressing inequalities, and advancing reforms to achieve universal health coverage by 2030, as outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3.8).
In 2024, UHC Day will highlight both the progress made and the challenges faced in achieving UHC while emphasising collaborative approaches, such as sector-wide approaches (SWAp), innovative healthcare reforms and community-driven efforts to ensure no one is left behind.
