NHIA reforms strengthening health coverage, improving data quality —-DG
Coverage
By Abujah Racheal
Abuja Dec. 20, 2025 (NAN) Dr Kelechi Ohiri, Director-General of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), says ongoing reforms under the authority are strengthening Nigeria’s health coverage and improving data quality across the health system.
Ohiri made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the 13th Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) meeting of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) in Abuja, where stakeholders reviewed progress and challenges in health financing and service delivery.
According to him, the NHIA is being repositioned to function beyond a conventional insurance scheme, evolving into a people-centred system that enhances inclusion and access to quality healthcare services.
Drawing lessons from health insurance and social protection models in China, Australia, and the United States, he said the reforms were focused on addressing implementation gaps, improving indicators, and reducing errors within the system.
“The NHIA allows us to identify biological vulnerabilities, income-related challenges, and other human factors that affect access to healthcare. Strengthening the system helps us improve planning and decision-making,” he said.
He explained that improvements in NHIA data processes had resulted in better indicators for estimating health needs, while aligning policies with international best practices to support collaboration with researchers, insurance providers, and development partners.
He said the NHIA developed a vulnerability assessment tool that allows NHIA to identify biological vulnerabilities, income-related challenges and other human factors.
From January 1, 2026, he disclosed that NHIA would enforce the use of NIN for inclusiveness and transparency.
He said that strengthened enrollment and screening processes will help address challenges with data reported by some states.
On the rising utilisation of senior and specialised health facilities, he said this was linked to both improvements in quality of care and expanded NHIA interventions, as well as research-specific financing supporting healthcare centres and cost reduction.
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding NHIA coverage, particularly in priority sectors, adding that compliance measures would not place additional burdens on businesses.
He said the authority was working with relevant government agencies to ensure electronic compliance and had begun mapping key stakeholders required to support nationwide implementation of reforms.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
AIR/YMU
Edited by Yakubu Uba