The Kogi State Government has officially launched its health insurance initiative, extending access to healthcare services to more than 76,000 residents. The rollout also included the distribution of medical equipment and 62,000 solar-powered refrigerators by the Kogi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency.
The flag-off ceremony, held at the Government House in Lokoja, was organized in collaboration with the Kogi State Health Insurance Agency, the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (KSPHDA), and the State Ministry of Health.
Governor Usman Ododo emphasized his administration’s commitment to improving citizens’ welfare, noting that primary healthcare centres across the state have been upgraded to deliver quality services, especially to rural communities.
He assured residents that the government will continue to create opportunities that guarantee access to affordable and reliable healthcare. Ododo further highlighted that Kogi has joined the global health insurance scheme to safeguard the wellbeing of vulnerable groups, urging individuals, families, and organizations to register with the state’s health insurance agency.
As part of the initiative, pensioners earning below ₦50,000 will receive free health insurance, while those earning above that threshold will make modest contributions: ₦650 for those earning more than ₦50,000 and ₦1,250 for those earning ₦100,000 and above.
The governor also disclosed that training for doctors in the MBBS programme at Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), Anyigba—halted for over a decade—has resumed. Additionally, the state government has begun constructing doctors’ lodges at PAAU and Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH) to encourage medical professionals.
Dr. Aledare Adekunle, Executive Director of the Kogi State Health Insurance Agency, commended the foresight of former Governor Yahaya Bello for establishing the insurance scheme and praised Governor Ododo for sustaining both political and financial support for healthcare delivery.
He explained that the programme currently covers 28,056 local government civil servants, 3,427 pensioners under a contributory plan, and 44,760 students through the Tertiary Institutions Social Health Insurance Programme (TISHIP).
