FG Targets 44 Million Nigerians for Health Insurance Coverage by 2030

The Federal Government has announced plans to enroll at least 44 million Nigerians into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) by 2030 as part of efforts to reduce the country’s high out-of-pocket healthcare spending.

The commitment was reaffirmed on Monday by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, at the opening of the National Health Financing Policy Dialogue in Abuja. The event brought together policymakers and stakeholders to chart a new course for sustainable health financing.

Salako, speaking on the theme “Reimagining a New Era of Health Financing,” said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the strengthening of domestic health financing to reduce reliance on foreign aid and ensure universal health coverage.

“Under the Presidential Performance Agreement we signed, a key deliverable for the Ministry is to enroll at least 44 million Nigerians into the national health insurance scheme by 2030. This will help reduce out-of-pocket expenditure on health, which currently stands at about 70%,” he said.

Budgetary Allocations Rising but Still Below Benchmark
The minister noted that health sector funding has grown steadily, from ?434 billion in 2018 to ?1.2 trillion in 2021, with a proposed ?2.48 trillion allocation for 2025—representing 5.18% of the federal budget. While this is more than double the 2021 figure, it remains far below the 15% Abuja Declaration benchmark.

He added that the National Assembly raised the 2024 health budget by ?300 billion following the suspension of U.S. aid, while subnational governments have also increased their allocations. As a result, Nigeria’s total health expenditure as a share of GDP has risen from 3.4% in 2013 to 5.03% in 2024.

Strengthening Insurance and Safety Nets
Salako reaffirmed the government’s commitment to implementing the National Health Insurance Act of 2012, which mandates health insurance for all Nigerians and establishes the Vulnerable Group Fund for those unable to afford premiums.

He also pointed to the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), financed by 1% of consolidated revenue, as a lifeline for the poor. Plans are underway to push for an increase to at least 2% to expand coverage.

Learning from Global Best Practices
Citing Ghana as a model, Salako urged stakeholders to commit to innovative funding, stronger legal frameworks, and decentralized implementation to achieve better outcomes. He stressed the need for collaboration, data-driven strategies, and reforms to ensure a transparent, inclusive, and sustainable healthcare financing system.

What You Should Know

• The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) recently announced that it had surpassed its 2024 enrollment target, increasing coverage from 16.7 million to 19.2 million Nigerians—a 14% growth in under a year.
• NHIA projects a further 20% growth in 2025, building on the over two million enrollments recorded in the first nine months of 2024.
• Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan (ETP) and broader national reforms aim to strengthen social investments, with healthcare financing seen as a key pillar.

If fully implemented, the enrollment of 44 million Nigerians into health insurance is expected to significantly cut out-of-pocket spending, reduce inequality in access to care, and advance Nigeria’s march toward universal health coverage.