FG sets goal to provide health insurance for 44 million Nigerians by 2030
FG sets goal to provide health insurance for 44 million Nigerians by 2030
The Federal Government on Monday unveiled plans to enroll at least 44 million Nigerians in the national health insurance scheme by 2030.
Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Salako, announced this during the opening session of the National Health Financing Policy Dialogue in Abuja, themed “Reimagining the Future of Health Financing in Nigeria.”
The four-day dialogue convened policymakers, development partners, health financing specialists, civil society groups, private sector players, academics, and health insurance stakeholders to map out strategies for building stronger, more sustainable health financing systems.
Salako emphasized President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening health financing through increased domestic funding and reduced reliance on external aid. He noted that Nigeria’s total health expenditure, as a share of Gross Domestic Product, has grown from 3.4 percent in 2013 to 5.03 percent in 2024, but stressed that greater efforts are needed to shield citizens from devastating 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 reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that every Nigerian can access quality healthcare without facing financial hardship.
In his remarks, the Director-General of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, emphasized the agency’s mission to broaden financial protection and reduce reliance on out-of-pocket spending.
“At the NHIA, our mandate aligns with the broader health sector reform agenda of the Honourable Minister of Health and the vision of Mr. President. We are dedicated to expanding financial protection for all Nigerians, with equity at the core to ensure the poor and vulnerable are not left behind,” Ohiri stated.
He explained that the policy dialogue was intentionally structured to keep people at the heart of Nigeria’s health financing discussions while promoting accountability, transparency, private sector involvement, and stronger partnerships.
“This is both a call to action and a call for collaboration. Achieving sustainable and equitable health financing demands the joint efforts of government, civil society, development partners, the private sector, and academia. My hope is that the drive and commitment we witness on Day One will continue through Day Four, producing concrete commitments, documented outcomes, and a clear roadmap for Nigeria’s health financing future,” he added.
Also speaking, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, cautioned that Nigeria cannot continue to depend on foreign aid to strengthen its healthcare system and urged greater domestic investment. He further called on civil society organizations to play an active role in promoting accountability and supporting the country’s push towards Universal Health Coverage.
