Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has emphasized that every Nigerian is legally entitled to compulsory health insurance under the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act of 2022.
Lens News gathered that during a recent public forum, Falana called on both federal and state governments to ensure full implementation of the Act to guarantee universal health coverage for all citizens.
The NHIA Act mandates that every Nigerian has access to a basic minimum package of healthcare services. It also establishes a Vulnerable Group Fund to provide subsidies for children under five, pregnant women, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and the indigent. To reinforce compliance, President Bola Tinubu issued a directive on September 3, 2025, requiring all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to enroll their employees in the NHIA scheme and present valid NHIA-issued health insurance certificates for public procurement activities.
Despite these legislative advancements, a recent study by the Maternal and Reproductive Health Collective revealed that over 90% of Nigerian women still lack health insurance, leaving them vulnerable to preventable deaths during childbirth. The study highlighted that cultural barriers, weak accountability systems, and poor access to skilled care continue to endanger women, underscoring the urgent need for effective implementation of the NHIA Act.
Falana stressed that the absence of a comprehensive health insurance system undermines Nigeria’s constitutional and international obligations to guarantee adequate healthcare for all citizens. He called for collaboration between federal and state governments, as well as private healthcare providers, to ensure an effective, sustainable health insurance system that covers all Nigerians.
