Abuja, July 11, 2025 — As Nigeria’s population races toward an estimated 400 million by 2050, alarming new data reveals that less than 20% of the population currently has access to any form of health coverage.
This revelation underscores a growing public health crisis in Africa’s most populous nation, where the demand for healthcare is expected to soar in tandem with population growth. According to experts, the existing national health insurance framework remains grossly inadequate to meet the needs of millions, especially those in rural and underserved communities.
Despite reforms such as the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act signed in 2022 to drive universal health coverage, uptake has remained slow due to systemic challenges, including poor awareness, infrastructural gaps, and underfunded healthcare facilities.
Public health advocates warn that without urgent, large-scale investments in healthcare financing, infrastructure, and insurance enrollment, Nigeria risks an overstretched system incapable of handling even basic services by mid-century.
Dr. Abubakar Gana, a healthcare policy analyst, described the trend as “a ticking time bomb,” noting that “if we can’t adequately cover 20% of our current population, how do we intend to cater to double that by 2050?”
The Federal Government has pledged to accelerate coverage through public-private partnerships, digital health innovation, and scaled-up primary healthcare reforms. However, stakeholders insist that achieving universal health coverage will require more than promises—it demands strong political will, sustained funding, and robust accountability mechanisms.
With the window for action narrowing, experts stress that health coverage must be treated as a national security and economic priority if Nigeria is to avoid an impending healthcare collapse.