The Federal Government says health insurance enrollment in Nigeria has grown to cover 20 million citizens, with a target to reach 44 million Nigerians by 2030 as part of efforts to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, disclosed this on Saturday in a post on X (formerly Twitter), noting that the achievement aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the administration’s ongoing reforms in the health sector.
According to the minister, Nigeria added 2.4 million new enrollees in 2024, bringing the total to around 20 million.
He said this progress reflects the government’s determination to expand access to affordable healthcare and reduce out-of-pocket health expenditure, which still accounts for about 70 per cent of total health spending.
Pate revealed that social health insurance schemes now represent 90 per cent of all enrollments nationwide.
To improve service delivery, he announced a significant increase in the capitation fee for enrollees from N750 to N1,450 per person and a 380 per cent rise in fee-for-service rates to ensure cost-reflective payments for quality care.
“A major constraint in care quality has been the low capitation fee for enrollees.
”We have doubled it to ensure that providers are properly equipped to deliver consistent, high-quality care,” the minister said.
He also introduced a new One-Hour Referral Authorisation Code, designed to shorten referral processes between primary and specialist healthcare providers, reducing delays in patient care.
To strengthen accountability, Pate directed the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to deploy covert ‘mystery shoppers’ across health facilities to monitor compliance and ensure that enrollees receive timely treatment.
“Undercover monitors are already observing processes in facilities nationwide to ensure that insured Nigerians receive dignified care,” he added.
The minister said hospital attendance has risen sharply—from fewer than 10 million visits in 2023 to over 46 million by mid-2025, demonstrating improved access and confidence in the health system.
Pate noted that the government had also stepped up workforce development, with 120,000 health workers trained since 2023, and the recruitment of 2,500 frontline professionals, including doctors, nurses, and midwives.
Additionally, 4,000 personnel have been deployed to federal tertiary hospitals to close staffing gaps.
“Reforms in the Basic Health Care Provision Fund and the NHIA are delivering measurable gains in patient confidence and service utilisation.
”Wider adoption of health insurance strengthens quality, accountability, and financial protection for households,” he said.
The minister reaffirmed that the administration’s health reforms were people-centred, focused on modernising infrastructure at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels and ensuring that every Nigerian regardless of income or social status—has access to affordable, quality healthcare.
“These achievements reflect President Tinubu’s vision of a health system that serves all Nigerians.
”We will continue to modernise infrastructure, strengthen our workforce, and sustain reforms until every Nigerian is covered and cared for,” Pate said.
