By Iyemah David
The Director-General, National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr Kelechi Ohiri, said the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) now supports over 2.67 million Nigerians.
Dr Ohiri said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of an oversight session with the House of Representatives Committee on Health Services on Thursday in Abuja.
Briefing lawmakers on NHIA’s recent progress and ongoing reforms, he said that with the figure, BHCPF was marking a significant stride in improving access to essential health services for the most vulnerable.
According to him, about 800,000 new enrollees were added in 2025 alone, signalling increasing public trust in the fund and stronger coordination between federal and state-level health institutions.
“This expansion of the BHCPF is a direct reflection of our commitment to delivering basic healthcare to those who need it most.
“It also demonstrates the power of strategic partnerships in strengthening Nigeria’s primary healthcare system,” he said.
In addition to the BHCPF gains, Ohiri said that over 20 million Nigerians were now enrolled in health insurance schemes, a jump from 16.8 million in 2023.
“Latest figures released after the most recent senior management retreat show that national health insurance coverage now stands at over 20.028 million people.
“This is through the combined efforts of the NHIA, State Social Health Insurance Agencies (SSHIAs), and Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs),” he said,
According to him, this puts the country on track to exceed the 2027 presidential goal for universal health coverage.
The NHIA boss said that there had been increased coverage of vulnerable groups, with more than 7,500 women benefiting from the Fistula-Free Initiative and emergency obstetric care services across the country.
He also highlighted the integration of HIV and tuberculosis (TB) services into health insurance in five pilot states.
The director general described it as the first-ever inclusion of donor-funded disease programmes into the national health insurance system.
“Health insurance schemes are now operational in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), signifying a nationwide expansion that strengthens grassroots access to healthcare,” he said.
Dr Ohiri said that NHIA revised provider tariffs, raising capitation rates by 93 per cent and fee-for-service rates by 378 per cent, thereby incentivising healthcare providers to deliver improved quality of care.
“To further reduce delays in service delivery, the authority has introduced a new one-hour authorisation code mandate for HMOs and hospitals.
“The rate of complaint resolution had significantly improved, with over 80 per cent of beneficiary issues resolved in 2024, a 21 per cent increase compared to previous years,” he said.
The NHIA Director-General said that the reforms were transforming NHIA into a more people-centred agency capable of delivering on its mandate to ensure that every Nigerian has access to affordable, quality care.
“Health insurance is for everyone, and that the NHIA provides coverage through the Group, Individual, and Family Social Health Insurance Programme (GIFSHIP).
“The programme is designed to cater to market women, artisans, students, retirees and individuals in the informal sector, ensuring that no one is left behind,” he said.
