Nigeria's Health Insurance Coverage to Reach 21.7 Million by 2025

A report from the Federal Ministry of Health indicates that health insurance coverage in Nigeria is expected to increase from 19.2 million in 2024 to 21.7 million in 2025, which would account for 13% of the national population. This report is part of the government's efforts to expand health coverage across the country, aligning with the National Health Act of 2014.

The Nigerian government is committed to implementing mandatory health insurance, with a focus on increasing capitated fee service payments to ensure sustainable healthcare. The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has signed memoranda of understanding with 200 health facilities to improve access to comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care services, reaching 19,270 women nationwide.

President Bola Tinubu has directed ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to enroll employees in the NHIA health insurance plan, requiring valid NHIA health insurance certificates for public procurement. The report also highlights the training of an additional 23,000 frontline health workers, bringing the total trained in the past two years to 78,146, which is 65% of the federal government's target of 120,000 health workers.