FG targets 44m Nigerians for health insurance by 2030

The Federal Government on Monday announced an ambitious plan to enrol at least 44 million Nigerians into the national health insurance scheme by 2030.

The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Salako, disclosed this at the opening of the National Health Financing Policy Dialogue in Abuja, with the theme “Reimagining the Future of Health Financing in Nigeria.”

The four-day dialogue brought together policymakers, development partners, health financing experts, civil society groups, the private sector, academia, and health insurance representatives to chart a clear path toward building stronger and more resilient health financing systems.

Salako stressed that President Bola Tinubu was committed to strengthening health financing by boosting domestic resources and reducing dependency on external aid. He revealed that Nigeria’s total health expenditure as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product has risen from 3.4 per cent in 2013 to 5.03 per cent in 2024, but insisted that more must be done to protect citizens from catastrophic health costs.

“The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare remains committed to evolving legislation, regulations, and policies that will ensure effective implementation. Key among these is the National Health Insurance Act of 2022, which makes health insurance mandatory for all Nigerians and seeks to significantly expand coverage beyond the previous five per cent of the population,” Salako said.

He explained that the Act also established the Vulnerable Group Fund to cater for those unable to afford premiums, while the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, instituted by the 2014 National Health Act, allocates one per cent of consolidated federal revenue to provide quality healthcare for the poor and vulnerable.

Salako added that the ministry was considering approaching the National Assembly to increase BHCPF funding from the current one per cent to at least two per cent of consolidated revenue, noting that inadequate budgetary allocation remains one of the sector’s biggest constraints.

“Under the Presidential Performance Agreement we signed, a key deliverable for the ministry is to enrol at least 44 million Nigerians into the national health insurance scheme by 2030. This will help reduce out-of-pocket expenditure on health, which currently stands at an unacceptably high rate of about 70 per cent. We remain focused on strengthening the framework, expanding coverage, ensuring sustainability, and addressing persistent challenges such as systemic inefficiencies, fragmented programming, and limited reliable data,” he stated.

He reiterated that the government is determined to ensure that every Nigerian has access to quality healthcare without financial hardship.

In his remarks, the Director-General of the National Health Insurance Authority, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, reaffirmed that the agency’s mission is to expand financial protection for all Nigerians and shift reliance away from out-of-pocket payments.

“At the NHIA, our mission aligns with the broader health sector reform agenda of the Honourable Minister of Health and the vision of Mr. President. We are committed to expanding financial protection for all Nigerians by reducing dependence on out-of-pocket payments. Equity remains central to this effort, ensuring that the poor and vulnerable are not left behind,” Ohiri said.

He added that the policy dialogue was deliberately designed to place people at the centre of Nigeria’s health financing conversations, while also promoting accountability, transparency, private sector participation, and stronger partnerships.

“This is a call to action and a call to collaborate. Achieving sustainable and equitable health financing will require the collective effort of government, civil society, development partners, the private sector, and academia. As we begin today, I hope the energy and commitment we see on Day One will carry through to Day Four, culminating in clear commitments, documented outcomes, and a roadmap for Nigeria’s future in health financing,” he added.

Also speaking, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, warned that Nigeria cannot continue to rely on foreign aid to strengthen its healthcare system, urging increased domestic investment.

He called on civil society organisations to play their role in ensuring accountability and advancing the country’s drive towards Universal Health Coverage.