Nigeria’s health insurance enrolment has increased to 23.06 million people in the second quarter of 2026, up from 16.2 million in late 2023, according to the National Health Insurance Authority.
The NHIA Director-General, Kelechi Ohiri, disclosed this on Thursday while delivering the keynote address at the 11th Future of Health Conference organised by Nigeria Health Watch in Abuja.
Ohiri said enrolment across federal, state and private health insurance schemes had recorded significant growth, but stressed that expanding coverage must translate into affordable, accessible and quality healthcare for Nigerians.
He warned that having an insurance card does not automatically guarantee financial protection, particularly when patients cannot access functioning health facilities, essential medicines and covered medical services.
According to him, the real measure of success is whether insurance protects households from excessive out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, especially during medical emergencies.
NHIA strengthens accountability
To improve access and accountability, Ohiri said the authority had introduced digital tools to help enrollees understand their benefits and seek assistance when problems arise.
These include the MyNHIA mobile application, an online self-enrolment portal and interactive QR codes distributed at accredited health facilities.
The QR codes allow enrollees to check the consultations, diagnostic services and medicines covered under their insurance packages.
The authority has also strengthened its complaints management system to address disputes involving beneficiaries, healthcare providers and health maintenance organisations.
Ohiri disclosed that the NHIA received and tracked 2,209 complaints through social media, telephone calls, call centres, walk-in desks and letters.
He said 82 per cent of the complaints were resolved within 48 hours, while the authority secured direct refunds for beneficiaries who were improperly charged by healthcare facilities.
The NHIA also issued formal warnings and removed providers that persistently failed to comply with its requirements.
Vulnerable Nigerians targeted
The NHIA boss said the authority was expanding access for vulnerable populations through subsidies, grants and public-private partnerships.
Under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund Gateway, enrolment reportedly increased from 2.6 million beneficiaries in the second quarter of 2026 to 3.2 million in the third quarter.
He added that all beneficiaries under the gateway had undergone biometric verification using their National Identification Numbers.
A separate programme established with support from the Global Fund is providing health insurance to key population groups living with or affected by major infectious diseases in Gombe, Anambra, Ebonyi and Kwara states.
According to Ohiri, enrolment under the programme rose from 25,815 beneficiaries in the fourth quarter of 2025 to 58,447 in the third quarter of 2026. Women accounted for 68 per cent of those enrolled, and all beneficiaries were biometrically verified using their NINs.
Health innovations must deliver results
The conference, themed “From Innovation to Impact: The Future of Health is Now,” brought together stakeholders to examine how technology, research, investment and policy can improve healthcare delivery.
Ohiri said innovations must address practical challenges, demonstrate measurable results and remain financially sustainable before they can achieve widespread impact.
In her remarks, Nigeria Health Watch Managing Director, Vivianne Ihekweazu, said Nigeria must look beyond developing health innovations to the financing, policies, procurement processes and data systems needed to sustain them.
Citing a review of 10 digital interventions in maternal and newborn health, she said none had achieved sustained scale, largely because of inadequate ownership within the health system and limited integration into routine service delivery.
The discussions highlighted a central challenge for Nigeria’s healthcare sector: ensuring that expanding insurance coverage and developing new technologies lead to lasting improvements in access, affordability and patient outcomes.
While the reported rise in enrolment represents progress, the NHIA says the ultimate objective is a system that enables more Nigerians to obtain needed healthcare without falling into financial hardship.
