Nigerian Government Aims To Enrol 44 Million In Health Insurance By 2030.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has unveiled an ambitious plan to enrol at least 44 million citizens into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) by 2030, a move designed to slash out-of-pocket healthcare costs and advance universal health coverage. The announcement came from Dr Iziaq Salako, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, during the opening of a four-day National Health Financing Policy Dialogue in Abuja on Monday, 1 September 2025.
Speaking at the event themed “Reimagining the Future of Health Financing in Nigeria,” Dr Salako highlighted the government’s commitment to reducing the financial burden on households, where out-of-pocket payments currently account for approximately 70% of healthcare expenditure. “Under the Presidential Performance Agreement, a key deliverable for the Ministry is to enrol at least 44 million Nigerians into the NHIS by 2030. This will help curb the unacceptably high rate of out-of-pocket spending and ensure access to quality healthcare without financial hardship,” he stated.
The dialogue, which runs until 4 September, brings together policymakers, health financing experts, civil society representatives, development partners, and private sector stakeholders to forge sustainable strategies for health financing. Dr Salako noted that the government is exploring legislation to double the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) from one to two per cent of consolidated revenue, a step aimed at bolstering domestic funding for healthcare.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, underscored the urgent need for increased domestic investment, warning that Nigeria’s health sector has suffered from decades of underfunding. “Good health is not cheap, and we cannot continue to rely on foreign aid. Our total health spending is roughly $120 per person annually, with two-thirds coming from out-of-pocket payments,” he said, comparing Nigeria’s system to a “bicycle” against better-funded healthcare systems elsewhere.
Dr Kelechi Ohiri, Director-General of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), reported encouraging progress, noting that four million Nigerians have been enrolled in the NHIS over the past 18 months, bringing the total to 19.2 million. “This is unprecedented progress, but we must sustain this momentum to meet our 2030 target,” he said, stressing the importance of mandatory health insurance under the 2022 NHIA Act and the Vulnerable Group Fund to protect the poor.
The government’s reform agenda rests on four pillars: strengthening governance and accountability, expanding health outcomes through services and insurance, making healthcare commodities affordable, and enhancing resilience through health security, with digital transformation as a cross-cutting theme. Dr Salako urged stakeholders to draw lessons from countries like Ghana and Kenya, where innovative funding and decentralised implementation have yielded stronger health outcomes.
As Nigeria grapples with a growing population and a dual burden of infectious and non-communicable diseases, the push for 44 million enrollees signals a bold step towards equitable healthcare. With the dialogue set to produce actionable commitments, stakeholders are optimistic that Nigeria can build a sustainable, transparent, and inclusive health financing framework by 2030.
