The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, has inaugurated the Governing Council of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), urging members to deepen ongoing reforms and drive progress toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Nigeria.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony on Friday in Abuja, Pate emphasized the importance of sustaining momentum built over the past 18 months, including expanded access to health insurance, improved payment systems for providers, and targeted support for vulnerable populations.
“The Council brings together individuals of competence, experience, and integrity,” Pate said, noting that Council Chairman, Sen. Ibrahim Oloriegbe, played a key role in the passage of the NHIA Act and other landmark health legislation during his time in the National Assembly.
He applauded the leadership of NHIA Director-General, Dr Kelechi Ohiri, for recent milestones, including the increase in health insurance coverage from 16.8 million enrollees in 2023 to over 20 million in 2024.
Pate also highlighted that more than 2.6 million Nigerians had been supported through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), with over 800,000 newly enrolled in 2025 alone.
“Maternal health interventions have reached more than 7,500 women through obstetric fistula repairs and emergency services at over 200 facilities nationwide,” he said.
The minister further noted that HIV and tuberculosis services had been integrated into the NHIA benefit package in five pilot states, marking a significant policy shift.
He also cited other reforms, including the implementation of a nationwide health insurance rollout across all 36 states and the FCT, and the introduction of a “one-hour referral code” to minimize delays in service delivery.
“A major tariff review increased capitation by 93 per cent and fee-for-service payments by 378 per cent. Additionally, over 80 per cent of beneficiary complaints were resolved in 2024, reflecting a 21 per cent improvement in responsiveness,” Pate said.
In his remarks, Council Chairman Oloriegbe reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to transparency and service delivery, saying the NHIA Act was one of four critical bills he had sponsored in the Senate, alongside the Mental Health Act and the law establishing a neuropsychiatric hospital in Kwara State.
“We are committed to delivering on this mandate with diligence and transparency,” he said.
NHIA Director-General Ohiri also underscored the importance of partnerships in transforming healthcare delivery.
“Government alone cannot build the health system we envision. We need collaboration with the private sector, development partners, and communities to create a resilient, inclusive, and equitable system,” Ohiri said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that stakeholders believe the inauguration of the new Council will help consolidate recent reforms and strengthen the NHIA’s institutional capacity.
This aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises equitable, accessible, and efficient healthcare for all Nigerians.
