FG Targets 44 Million Nigerians for Health Insurance by 2030

The Federal Government has announced plans to enroll no fewer than 44 million Nigerians into the national health insurance scheme by 2030. Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Salako, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja at the opening of the national health financing policy dialogue themed “Reimagining the Future of Health Financing in Nigeria.” He said the initiative aims to reduce the heavy burden of out-of-pocket health expenses on citizens.

The four-day dialogue is bringing together policymakers, health financing experts, development partners, civil society groups, the private sector, academia, and health insurance stakeholders to design strategies for building a stronger and more resilient health financing system in the country.

Salako noted that President Bola Tinubu is committed to boosting domestic health financing and reducing Nigeria’s reliance on foreign aid. He highlighted that health expenditure as a share of the Gross Domestic Product has grown from 3.4 percent in 2013 to 5.03 percent in 2024, underscoring the government’s determination to scale up investment in the sector.

The Minister reaffirmed the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s commitment to effective policy implementation. He stressed the importance of the National Health Insurance Act 2022, which makes health insurance mandatory for all Nigerians and introduces the Vulnerable Group Fund to support those unable to pay premiums. He also revealed that the government is considering a proposal to the National Assembly to raise the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund allocation from one percent to at least two percent of consolidated revenue to strengthen healthcare delivery for the poor and vulnerable.