Nigerian Military to Benefit from Full Health Insurance Coverage – Federal Government

The Federal Government has announced plans to fully integrate members of the Nigerian Armed Forces into the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), ensuring access to comprehensive healthcare for service members, their families, and eligible retirees.

Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja during the 20th anniversary celebration of the Ministry of Defence Health Implementation Programme’s partnership with the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research Africa.

Matawalle explained that the initiative would strengthen Nigeria’s defence health system and guarantee that soldiers and their dependents enjoy the same health safeguards as other citizens under the NHIA.

“We must shape the next 20 years with national security and the National Health Insurance Authority, ensuring that our forces are covered by national health and well-being safeguards for service members, their families, and eligible civilians—extending across postings and into retirement,” he said.

The minister stressed that the health of the military was directly tied to national security, noting that preventive healthcare and insurance coverage would ensure operational readiness.

Highlighting the impact of the defence health partnership, Matawalle said it had already benefitted over half a million Nigerians—both military and civilians—by saving lives, strengthening infrastructure, and boosting confidence in military-led healthcare.

Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, described the NHIA integration as a crucial step toward ensuring soldiers remain fit to defend the nation. He hailed the two-decade partnership with Walter Reed as a model of international collaboration, which has transformed Nigeria’s military health system, strengthened 32 health facilities nationwide, and supported civilian communities during health crises, including HIV prevention and COVID-19 response.

He also cited the Defence Reference Laboratory in Abuja—accredited by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation—as a landmark facility that enhanced Nigeria’s capacity to respond to future health threats.

United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills Jr., praised the partnership as a demonstration of trust and respect between Nigeria and the U.S., while Major General Paula Lodi, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, said the collaboration had saved countless lives, built local capacity, and influenced health policy beyond Nigeria.

Since inception, the programme has achieved major milestones, including counselling and testing over 1.6 million people for HIV, initiating more than 69,000 adults and children on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), and preventing thousands of cases of mother-to-child transmission.

Matawalle emphasized that integrating the armed forces into health insurance would not only sustain care but also safeguard long-term national security.

“As we mark this anniversary, we renew our collective resolve to keep the health of our armed forces at the heart of national defence,” he said.