In a bold move to combat maternal mortality and improve access to emergency obstetric care, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has commenced the provision of free Caesarean section (CS) services across more than 100 hospitals spread across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
The Director-General of NHIA, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, made the disclosure in Abuja during an interaction with the News Agency of Nigeria, explaining that the intervention is part of the Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (CEmONC) programme initiated by the federal government. He said the initiative is being implemented in federal, state, private, and faith-based medical institutions to ensure broader access, especially for economically disadvantaged women.
Dr. Ohiri further revealed that the service, which has already benefited over 4,000 pregnant women according to Health Minister Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, requires no pre-registration. Indigent women only need to present their National Identification Number (NIN)—either at admission or afterward—for eligibility assessment by each hospital’s social welfare department. Once verified as financially incapable, the patient is offered a free CS procedure and automatically enrolled in the state-level Basic Health Care Provision Fund for follow-up care and insurance.
He emphasised that the programme was designed to alleviate the financial burden of surgical delivery and provide a safety net for women who might otherwise be exposed to life-threatening complications due to lack of access. “This initiative is not restricted to federal government hospitals. State-owned, private, and mission-based health institutions are actively involved to ensure no woman is left behind, regardless of her location or economic status,” he stated.
Dr. Ohiri provided a breakdown of participating hospitals across regions. In the North-West, beneficiaries include Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital and Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital in Kano, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital and Maryam Abacha Women and Children Hospital in Sokoto, as well as multiple general hospitals across Zamfara and Kebbi states.
In the North-East, institutions such as the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe; University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Borno; Federal Medical Centre, Nguru, Yobe; Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital, Yola, Adamawa; and the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Azare, Bauchi, are among those providing the service.
North-Central states are also covered, with facilities including the Federal Medical Centres in Bida and Keffi, the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, and general hospitals in Suleja, Mokwa, and Tunga Magajiya participating.
For the South-West, the listed institutions include Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital and Federal Medical Centre, Ido-Ekiti; State Hospital, Abeokuta; State Specialist Hospital, Okitipupa; and Oba Ademola Maternity Hospital, Ijemo, in Ogun State.
In the South-South region, NHIA has extended coverage to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Federal Medical Centre Yenagoa, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, and Federal Medical Centre Jalingo.
For the South-East, notable facilities such as Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki; David Umahi University Teaching Hospital, Uburu; NOFIC, Abakaliki; Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital; and the University of Benin Teaching Hospital are offering the free service.
Faith-based and private hospitals also playing active roles include St. Gerard’s Catholic Hospital and Yusuf Dantsoho Memorial Hospital in Kaduna, St. Patrick Hospital in Abakaliki, and Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa Memorial Hospital in Kafanchan.
According to Dr. Ohiri, over 200 additional hospitals across the country have applied to join the programme and are currently undergoing the approval process, which could soon lead to a further expansion of the service nationwide.
He encouraged Nigerians, particularly those in rural and underserved communities, to help spread awareness about the initiative. “The cost of CS has historically been a barrier to safe delivery for many women. This programme is a deliberate and strategic step towards reducing preventable maternal deaths and ensuring that no woman dies giving life,” he said.
However, despite the federal government’s announcement five months ago that federal hospitals would commence the free CS programme, there are still gaps in its implementation in the South-West. A recent assessment revealed that out of five federal health institutions in the region, only the Federal Medical Centre in Ebute-Metta, Lagos, had started providing the service. Notably, no federal facilities in Lagos, Oyo, or Osun States were mentioned in the NHIA’s current rollout list.
Health experts have also expressed concerns over the requirement of a National Identification Number for access. They argue that many of Nigeria’s indigent population—particularly those in remote areas—do not possess NINs and may therefore be excluded despite being the target demographic for the intervention.
Dr. Ohiri, however, maintained that while the NIN is a requirement, it can be presented after treatment to avoid unnecessary delays or denial of care. He reiterated the government’s commitment to inclusiveness and equitable access, stressing that financial incapacity, not documentation, remains the key eligibility criterion.
The NHIA’s move is seen as a critical component of Nigeria’s broader effort to strengthen maternal and child health outcomes, in line with global sustainable development goals and national health policy targets.
