ABUJA, Nigeria — The Federal Government has set a target to enrol 44 million Nigerians into the national health insurance scheme by 2030, in a bid to cut the country’s heavy out-of-pocket healthcare spending.
Minister of State for Health, Dr Iziaq Salako, disclosed the plan on Monday during the National Health Financing Policy Dialogue in Abuja, themed “Reimagining the Future of Health Financing in Nigeria.”
“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,” Salako said. He noted that out-of-pocket health expenditure currently accounts for about 70 per cent of all spending, describing it as “unacceptably high.”
Salako explained that the National Health Insurance Act 2022 made enrollment mandatory and created a Vulnerable Group Fund to support those unable to pay premiums. He added that the government might approach the National Assembly to double the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund from one per cent to two per cent of consolidated revenue.
National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Director-General, Dr Kelechi Ohiri reaffirmed the agency’s commitment: “Equity remains central to this effort, ensuring that the poor and vulnerable are not left behind.”
Coordinating Minister of Health, Prof Muhammad Pate, urged domestic resource mobilisation, warning: “Nigeria cannot continue to rely on foreign aid to build its healthcare system. We must take ownership of our future.”
The four-day dialogue brought together policymakers, civil society, the private sector, and development partners.
