The National Health Insurance Authority, NHIA, now has a self-service portal to offer citizens a simplified way to enrol, manage their details, and secure health coverage from their phones or computers.
Dr Kelechi Ohiri, Director-General of the NHIA, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Abuja that the innovation represented a major step forward in achieving Universal Health Coverage, UHC.
Ohiri said that the portal, accessible via https://lnkd.in/dSiTWxEM, was launched as part of ongoing reforms to strengthen access and accountability in Nigeria’s health financing ecosystem.
“With this portal, we are placing health insurance directly in the hands of Nigerians.
“It is about convenience, transparency, and bringing healthcare closer to the people,” he said.
Ohiri said that the development came against the backdrop of steady progress in expanding health insurance coverage in the country.
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According to him, more than 3.2 million citizens were enrolled between Q4 2023 and Q2 2025
“This brings total coverage to about 20 million Nigerians, with social health insurance schemes accounting for nearly 90 per cent, ” he said.
The director-general also highlighted progress in maternal health.
“Two maternal health initiatives launched in 2024 reached over 18,200 women in 13 months, with Kano, Bauchi and Ebonyi leading in uptake of Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric Care (CEmOC),” he said.
To improve the quality of care, Ohiri said that tariffs were revised, capitation by 93 per cent and fee-for-service by 380 per cent, based on actuarial evidence to incentivise providers.
He said that the authority had also partnered with the National Bureau of Statistics to strengthen data collection and research.
“This is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Federal Ministry of Health’s strategic blueprint,” he said.
Looking ahead, Ohiri said the NHIA would deepen equity-based interventions for vulnerable Nigerians, reduce fragmentation of risk pools across states, and scale coverage through digital innovations such as the new self-service portal.
“Nigeria’s health insurance industry is entering a new era. This is about ensuring that no Nigerian is left behind on the path to UHC,” he said.
Speaking on the directive from the Presidency mandating health insurance for all Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Ohiri described it as a significant step towards achieving UHC.
“This move signals a strong commitment to ensuring that every civil servant has access to quality healthcare without financial hardship,” he said.
NAN
