By Iyemah David
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) reports significant progress in expanding coverage and protecting Nigerians from catastrophic health costs through strengthened nationwide implementation of mandatory health insurance.
This is contained in the NHIA’s year-end review, made available to newsmen, on Sunday in Abuja.
The review highlighted key milestones achieved under ongoing reforms aimed at improving enrolment, service delivery and financial protection in the health sector.
According to the report, the enforcement of mandatory health insurance has shifted more Nigerians from out-of-pocket payments for healthcare to organised prepayment through insurance.
“By the third quarter of 2025, more than 21 million Nigerians had been enrolled into health insurance through collaboration between NHIA, State Social Health Insurance Agencies and Health Maintenance Organisations.”
The agency said a major turning point came with the Presidential directive mandating health insurance for all Ministries, Departments and Agencies and requiring valid NHIA insurance certification for participation in public procurement and renewal of federal licences.
“The measure is accelerating coverage among the formal sector, organised private sector and micro, small and medium-scale enterprises,” it said.
The report also highlighted equity programmes such as the NHIA Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care initiative, which ensures zero out-of-pocket payment for emergency maternal and newborn care, and the Fistula-Free Programme providing treatment for women with obstetric fistula.
The Authority said these initiatives were supporting the enrolment of vulnerable women and children into health insurance.
NHIA further disclosed that the completion of a comprehensive actuarial evaluation in 2025 provided a scientific basis for reviewing provider payments.
This review led to a 93 per cent increase in capitation rates and a 378 per cent rise in fee-for-service tariffs, aimed at improving service quality and sustainability.
The report noted that governance structures were strengthened with the inauguration of the NHIA Governing Council in 2025 to provide oversight and ensure alignment with national Universal Health Coverage objectives.
It added that a national policy dialogue on healthcare financing was convened with key stakeholders to explore sustainable financing options and expand domestic funding for health.
NHIA stated that the reforms aligned with the Federal Government’s broader health sector agenda aimed at reducing out-of-pocket spending, protecting citizens from financial hardship and improving access to quality healthcare.
The NHIA Act mandates that all Nigerians be covered under a health insurance scheme, with the Authority serving as the national regulator responsible for coordinating insurance-based healthcare financing across the country.
