Health Minister Ali Pate Reveals Four Million Nigerians Enrolled in NHIS in Two Years

Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, has announced a significant milestone in Nigeria’s health sector, revealing that four million Nigerians have enrolled in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) within the last two years. Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday, Pate highlighted this achievement as part of broader efforts to reform healthcare delivery and expand access to affordable health services.

The minister emphasized that this recent progress marks a major leap in a system that had previously struggled with slow enrollment growth despite being in existence for nearly a quarter of a century.

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Reforming Healthcare Coverage for Millions

Pate, who has led health sector reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, noted that prior to the current government taking office, only 16 million Nigerians had enrolled in the NHIS over a span of nearly 25 years. This meant that the scheme averaged less than one million new enrollees per year.

“In the last two years of this administration, four million Nigerians have enrolled in the National Health Insurance Scheme,” Pate said. “If we had been doing this consistently over the years, Nigeria would have had over 100 million enrollees by now.”

The exponential increase in enrollment is attributed to the government’s strategic collaboration with state health insurance authorities and the expansion of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), which aims to provide coverage for vulnerable populations, particularly women and children.

Expanding the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund

Pate explained that a key driver of the recent success has been the strengthening of the BHCPF, which channels funds into primary healthcare systems and insurance coverage for disadvantaged Nigerians.

“In the last two years, we’ve seen the expansion of the basic healthcare provision fund, which provides for the vulnerable groups,” he stated. “Hundreds of thousands of poor, vulnerable women and children have been covered through that to access primary healthcare services.”

This initiative is not only ensuring better healthcare outcomes but is also reducing the financial burden on families who would otherwise struggle to afford basic medical care.

A Strategic Partnership with States

Another crucial aspect of the NHIS transformation has been the robust partnership between the Federal Ministry of Health and state-level health insurance agencies. This collaboration is aimed at harmonizing policies, improving funding flows, and enhancing service delivery across Nigeria’s federated structure.

“We are reforming the National Health Insurance Scheme, working with state health insurance authorities,” Pate noted. “This is a collective effort that recognizes health insurance as a shared responsibility between the federal and state governments.”

The decentralized model allows each state to manage its insurance schemes based on local needs while still aligning with national objectives. This flexibility has enabled faster rollouts, better stakeholder engagement, and improved trust in the insurance system.

The Road Ahead: Toward Universal Health Coverage

Despite the progress made, Pate acknowledged that the journey toward universal health coverage (UHC) in Nigeria is far from complete. With a population exceeding 200 million, the current enrollment still covers only a small percentage of citizens. However, the minister expressed confidence in the direction the country is heading, stressing that the momentum must be maintained and scaled up.

He also emphasized the need for continuous investment, innovation, and accountability in the health sector. According to Pate, reaching UHC will require not just government action but also private sector involvement, community participation, and international partnerships.

“Our vision is to ensure that no Nigerian is left behind,” he said. “We want to build a resilient health system that is accessible, affordable, and equitable.”

Public Reception and Policy Implications

The announcement of the four-million milestone has been widely welcomed as a step in the right direction, especially amid ongoing discussions about healthcare reform and economic pressures facing Nigerian households. Health advocates have praised the administration’s commitment to expanding access, but they also caution that sustained political will and funding are crucial to long-term success.

Critics, however, point out that healthcare infrastructure and service quality remain uneven across the country. They argue that insurance alone cannot solve systemic issues such as underfunded hospitals, shortages of skilled health workers, and poor health literacy.

Nonetheless, the increased NHIS enrollment figures signal a new era in Nigeria’s quest for inclusive health coverage and offer a hopeful glimpse into what is possible with coordinated policy implementation.

As the administration continues to push forward with its reform agenda, the health sector is emerging as a critical area for national development, and citizens are watching closely to see how these gains will be sustained and expanded in the years to come.

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