A healthy country is a productive country, and accessing quality and equitable healthcare is crucial for overall national development. Despite the enactment of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act in 2022, which was designed to expand coverage and ensure equitable access to healthcare, only about 7% of Nigerians are currently enrolled in health insurance. As a result, healthcare access remains predominantly out-of-pocket, with approximately 80% of Nigerians bearing the financial burden themselves.

This makes Nigeria one of the worst-performing countries in Africa in terms of financial protection, in stark contrast to Rwanda, where 90% of the population is covered by health insurance. The low enrollment in health insurance schemes exacerbates healthcare inequities, limits access to essential services, and pushes millions into poverty due to catastrophic health expenditures. To achieve universal health coverage and improve national well-being, there is an urgent need for stronger policy implementation, increased public awareness, and sustainable financing mechanisms to make health insurance more accessible and affordable for all Nigerians..