Nigeria's Progress in Expanding Access to Affordable Health Insurance: Key Takeaways and Statistics

Strategic Insights -

Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, has announced significant progress in Nigeria's efforts to expand access to affordable health insurance. With over 2.4 million new enrollees recorded in 2024, the total number of Nigerians covered has reached about 20 million. The development reflects the administration's commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and ensuring that every Nigerian has access to quality healthcare services.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Nigerian government has recorded over 2.4 million new enrollees in 2024, bringing the total number of Nigerians covered to about 20 million.
  • The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has aligned its performance targets with national priorities under the Ministerial Performance Monitoring Bond, aiming to achieve universal health insurance coverage by 2030.
  • Reforms across primary, secondary, and tertiary health facilities have improved service quality and accountability, with record-breaking enrollment figures aligning with increased investments in human resources and infrastructure.
  • The government has doubled the capitation fee for enrollees from N750 to N1,450 per person to ensure better service delivery, and increased fee-for-service rates by 380% based on actuarial evidence.
  • The NHIA has been directed to conduct covert mystery shopping to monitor service quality and ensure that enrollees are not denied treatment.
  • The government aims to sustain ongoing reforms, pledging to continue modernising infrastructure, strengthening the health workforce, and ensuring that every Nigerian is covered and cared for.

Statistics:

  • Over 2.4 million new enrollees recorded in 2024, bringing the total number of Nigerians covered to about 20 million.
  • Nearly 120,000 health workers have been trained since 2023, and 2,500 doctors, nurses, midwives, and community health extension workers have been recruited to strengthen frontline services.
  • Over the past 16 months, 4,000 health personnel have been added in Federal Tertiary Hospitals to close workforce gaps.
  • The capitation fee for enrollees has been doubled from N750 to N1,450 per person to ensure better service delivery.
  • Fee-for-service rates have been increased by 380% based on actuarial evidence.
  • The Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) and the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) reforms have delivered measurable gains in patient confidence and service utilisation, with over 46 million hospital visits recorded by the second quarter of 2025.

Sources:

  • A tweet from @muhammadpate on X, quoting Professor Muhammad Ali Pate.
  • A statement from the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate.