More than 90% of Nigerians do not have any type of health insurance, according to the Health Care Providers Association of Nigeria (HCPAN).
The group warned that with so many people still without insurance, Nigeria is far from achieving health care for everyone.
HCPAN shared this information at its special midyear meeting and training program held by the Lagos chapter. The theme of the event was “Review of Health Insurance in Nigeria: Business Opportunities for Health Providers.”
Chairperson of HCPAN in Lagos, Abiola Paul-Ozieh, said it’s troubling that after more than 20 years of government efforts, less than 10% of Nigerians have health insurance.
She said, “Health insurance has been in Nigeria for over 20 years, but still, more than 90% of people don’t have it. That’s not okay. We can’t achieve health care for all if people are not included in the system.”
She added that Nigerians want to see real action and honesty from leaders, not just plans written on paper.
Paul-Ozieh asked the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and all levels of government to raise awareness, align their policies, and truly commit to making health insurance work.
HCPAN’s National President, Dr. Austin Aipoh, also expressed concern. He said the NHIA Act, which makes health insurance mandatory, has not been properly enforced.
He said, “We have the law, but it’s not being followed. Too few Nigerians are covered, and many no longer trust the promises of health insurance.”
Aipoh explained that there needs to be enough funding, better public awareness, and strong political support to carry out the law. If not, people will keep paying from their own pockets, which can push families into poverty.
He praised NHIA for adjusting the payment rates for health care providers but noted that inflation and a weak economy are still affecting the success of these changes.
Dr. Kalada Richard, Registrar of the Institute for Healthcare Finance and Management, gave the keynote speech. He said more than 80% of Nigerian workers are in informal jobs, and most of them don’t have insurance.
He said, “If Nigeria has 200 million people and only 20 million have insurance, that means around 180 million people still pay for health care themselves. That’s a heavy burden and also a chance to improve things.”
Dr. Richard suggested using community-based insurance plans to help people in informal jobs and providing support for the poor and vulnerable.
Dr. Anthony Omolola, head of St Rachael Hospital in Lagos, said a lack of trust is a big reason why people don’t sign up for insurance in Nigeria.
He said, “Nigerians don’t feel they’re getting good value from health insurance. When they sign up but still can’t get proper care, they lose trust. The NHIA needs to fix this by being more honest and responsive.”
