Nigeria extends health insurance cover to 24 million citizens
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Vanguard
The Nigerian federal government has extended health insurance cover from 16 to 24 million people and revitalised 3,526 primary healthcare centres. Maternal deaths linked to obstetric emergencies fell by more than 20% in three years, according to Health Minister Muhammad Ali Pate, who says the 41 sector commitments of the Tinubu presidency have been met.
The Nigerian federal government has expanded health insurance coverage from 16 million to 24 million Nigerians, according to Health Minister Muhammad Ali Pate. He announced these results on Tuesday in Abuja, at the third annual joint review of the health sector, under the theme "Make the Data Count".
The minister also says that 3,526 primary healthcare centres have been revitalised and that maternal mortality linked to obstetric emergencies has fallen by more than 20% in three years in government-supported facilities. According to him, the administration of President Bola Tinubu has met the 41 performance commitments set for the sector at the start of its mandate. He attributes this progress to reforms under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and the Health Sector Strategic Blueprint.
The Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) has disbursed around 422.3 billion naira since 2019, up to October 2026, of which 323.6 billion naira has been transferred to the fund’s windows, and 249.5 billion naira under the Tinubu administration. The government has also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to better track these funds.
