The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) is stepping up its commitment to deliver accessible, quality healthcare for Nigerians under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda. In a media briefing held in Lagos, NHIA’s Director General, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri—represented by Mrs. Aisha Abubarka Haruna, Acting Director of the Lagos Regional Office—outlined the agency’s ongoing efforts and transformative impact on healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
Empowering Women Through CeMOC and Fistula-Free Initiatives
A major highlight of NHIA’s recent achievements is the success of its Fistula-Free initiative and Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Maternal and Childcare (CeMOC) programme. These interventions have directly empowered over 7,500 women by May 2025. Of this number, 2,690 women received life-changing obstetric fistula repairs, while 5,289 women accessed emergency obstetric care across more than 200 CeMOC facilities nationwide.
Launched in September 2024, CeMOC aims to provide free emergency care for vulnerable pregnant women and children. The programme is already gaining nationwide recognition for significantly reducing maternal and infant mortality—particularly in underserved rural areas.
“In Kano, where we piloted the CeMOC programme, we’ve seen a 50% reduction in maternal mortality at participating hospitals,” said Dr. Ohiri. “We are now scaling this across the country.”
The NHIA has signed MOUs with over 200 hospitals to deliver CeMOC services and ensure post-treatment enrollment into the national health insurance scheme—offering long-term healthcare coverage for beneficiaries.
Targeted Collaborations with States
To ensure deep reach, NHIA is partnering with various state governments including Kano and Lagos to expand CeMOC’s impact. In Lagos, where healthcare demand is high due to the state’s population, NHIA is working with the Ministry of Health to identify and register vulnerable women who need the service most.
Mrs. Haruna emphasized,
“The goal is simple: no woman should be left behind when it comes to accessing life-saving maternal healthcare.”
NHIA Health Insurance Coverage Hits 20 Million
Another milestone achieved is the increase in national health insurance coverage. As of June 2025, over 20.02 million Nigerians have been enrolled up from 16.8 million in 2023. This reflects steady progress toward the Presidential 2027 target for universal health coverage.
The Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) has also expanded its reach, now supporting 2.67 million beneficiaries, with 800,000 new enrollments recorded in the first half of 2025 alone.
Cancer Care: Making Treatment Affordable
In a landmark move, NHIA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with pharmaceutical giant Roche to launch a cost-sharing initiative for cancer treatment. Initially launched in five teaching hospitals, the programme is now being scaled up nationwide, providing subsidized cancer medications for NHIA enrollees.
This effort not only reduces out-of-pocket expenses but also marks the first-ever integration of donor-funded health programmes (including for people living with HIV and TB) into the national insurance scheme.
One-Hour Rule: Fast-Tracking Care Authorizations
In a bid to cut delays in healthcare delivery, NHIA introduced a new policy mandating HMOs and healthcare providers to authorize care within one hour of request. This policy, which took effect on April 1, 2025, aims to eliminate the bureaucratic bottlenecks that previously led to delayed or denied care.
Key features of the directive include:
- One-Hour Deadline: HMOs must respond to authorization requests within one hour.
- Emergency Cases: Providers may proceed with care and seek authorization retroactively within 48 hours.
- Accountability: Both HMOs and providers must keep clear records, and non-compliance will attract sanctions.
“This directive is a bold step to ensure enrollees get timely care without delays or denials,” the NHIA affirmed.
Strategic Reforms and Ongoing Impact
From tariff revisions and sanctioning of non-compliant providers to proactive complaint resolution, NHIA has implemented sweeping reforms between 2024 and 2025. These actions have addressed critical issues such as drug shortages, delayed payments, and poor service delivery.
NHIA’s broader mission remains anchored on expanding health insurance, improving care quality, and protecting enrollee rights—especially the most vulnerable.
Looking Ahead
NHIA’s achievements in the past year reflect a clear shift toward sustainable, inclusive healthcare in Nigeria. Through programmes like CeMOC and its cancer care initiative, the Authority is transforming how maternal, child, and chronic disease care are accessed and financed.
“We are not just offering health insurance; we are saving lives,” said Dr. Ohiri.
The road ahead includes continued scale-up of successful pilots, deeper collaboration with state governments, and robust stakeholder engagement—all designed to make universal health coverage a reality for every Nigerian.
