Dr. Lekan Ewenla, the Managing Director and CEO of Ultimate Health HMO, has asked for urgent and well-planned actions to speed up the implementation of Nigeria’s mandatory health insurance policy. He says this is necessary to make sure all Nigerians have access to health care
He made this statement during the 2025 Business Day Health Conference in Abuja. The event focused on how government reforms can help improve Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Dr. Ewenla explained that the National Health Insurance Scheme Act, created in 1999, was mainly designed for people working in the formal sector, like government workers and employees in big private companies.
He said the scheme got its funding by turning medical allowances into insurance payments. However, it left out about 80–85% of Nigerians—such as people working in the informal sector, small businesses, and poor or vulnerable groups.
He pointed out that apart from federal civil servants, very few other people were actually enrolled in the scheme. Because of this, a new law was needed to make health insurance compulsory for all Nigerians and legal residents. This new law was passed on May 19, 2022.
Dr. Ewenla explained that the 2022 law gives the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) the power to manage and regulate all health insurance schemes in Nigeria. It also requires NHIA to provide a basic package of health services across the country and teach the public about the benefits of having health insurance.
To get more people to enroll, he suggested a strong and strategic media campaign to raise awareness.
He also addressed the problem of some people negotiating or reducing the cost of extra healthcare packages. He advised that the NHIA should create and approve benefit packages using proper financial planning. This would help stop the issue of health insurance companies not paying health claims properly.
He said this would also help end the problem where health centers ask for proof that they are not owed money, which often happens when health insurance companies fail to settle claims.
Dr. Ewenla added that the NHIA leadership should work closely with the Governors Forum to fully carry out the Universal Health Coverage plan in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
He also said that NHIA should work with business and labor leaders on its governing council to help make enrollment mandatory for people in the organized private sector, small businesses, and other groups connected to the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association. He suggested reaching out to them in groups or clusters.
Finally, Dr. Ewenla emphasized that Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) should unite, manage themselves better, and follow a strict code of conduct. This will help rebuild public trust in the system.
