The Federal Government has announced a new plan to enroll 44 million Nigerians in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) by the year 2030. This ambitious target is a key part of the government’s strategy to reduce the country’s high rate of out-of-pocket healthcare spending.
Speaking at the National Health Financing Policy Dialogue in Abuja, Dr. Iziaq Salako, Minister of State for Health, stated that President Bola Tinubu has prioritized strengthening health financing. The goal is to move Nigeria towards universal health coverage by boosting domestic resources and cutting reliance on foreign aid.
Progress and Challenges
The government has already shown increased commitment through higher health budgets, with the proposed 2025 allocation of ₦2.48 trillion more than doubling the 2021 figure. However, this still falls short of the 15 per cent benchmark set by the Abuja Declaration.
The government aims to achieve its target by strengthening existing programs, such as the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF). Funded by a portion of the national revenue, the BHCPF is designed to provide healthcare for the poor and vulnerable. Plans are underway to lobby the National Assembly to increase this fund from 1 per cent to at least 2 per cent of the national budget.
While the government has made some progress, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) recently reported a 14 per cent growth in enrollment to 19.2 million Nigerians, major challenges remain. These include inadequate funding, systemic inefficiencies, and a lack of reliable data. The government hopes to learn from the successes of countries like Ghana to create a more sustainable, transparent, and inclusive health system for all Nigerians.
