The Niger State Contributory Health Agency (NICARE) has announced a major stride in its ongoing reform efforts with the successful consolidation of its financial inflows.
This agency, which announced this during a press briefing in Minna noted that the development will ensure timely payments to healthcare providers and also strengthen uninterrupted service delivery across the state’s health system.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NICARE, Dr. Sulayman Abubakr, described the move as a critical milestone in improving the agency’s operational efficiency and fulfilling its mandate of expanding access to quality and affordable healthcare.
These reforms, Abubakr said, followed the recent launch of revised operational guidelines which introduced fresh measures aimed at institutional accountability and healthcare equity by the Governor of Niger State, Umaru Bago.
“The event was not only symbolic but historic,” Abubakr said. “His Excellency the Governor, the Deputy Governor, and the Secretary to the State Government all formally enrolled in the health scheme, sending a powerful message that health insurance is for everyone — not just the poor or the sick. It’s about planning for the future.”
Abubakr emphasized that NICARE’s model is based on risk-sharing, not profit-making. “We pool contributions from the healthy and the unwell, the rich and the poor, to protect one another. This ensures that no one is left behind or forced to make impossible choices at the point of care,” he explained.
As part of the reforms, he noted that the agency also launched the Niger State Equity Health Fund, where pooled resources — including government subsidies for vulnerable populations — will be managed. This fund, Abubakr said, symbolizes NICARE’s commitment to building a fair and inclusive health system.
Furthermore, the new guidelines introduce performance-based incentives and sanctions for healthcare providers. Facilities delivering quality, timely, and transparent care will be rewarded, while those failing to meet expectations will be held accountable.
“This is how we rebuild trust in our health system,” he added. “People must know that when they enroll, they are entering a system that works.”
Abubakr also called on all residents of Niger State to enroll in the state’s contributory health scheme, stressing that it is designed to serve everyone — from civil servants and farmers to students, artisans, and retirees.
“The foundation has been laid. The leadership has led by example. Now it’s your turn. Enroll today and take the first step toward securing your health and that of your family.”
By Anna Moses
