NHIA Strengthens Health System Through New Data Partnerships

Efforts to enhance Nigeria health insurance have gained momentum as the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) formalised new partnerships with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and SERVICOM through two landmark Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).

At the signing ceremony, NHIA’s Director General, Dr Kelechi Ohiri, described the move as “a landmark day” for the organisation, noting that the collaboration would ensure decisions and policies are based on solid data rather than assumptions.

“This partnership ensures that issues affecting the poor and vulnerable are captured in national data systems,” he said. “It includes capacity building and research tailored to Nigeria’s context so that we can answer key questions like: What is working? Are we making measurable impacts in health outcomes?”

Building a Data-Driven Health System

According to Dr Ohiri, the MoUs represent more than ceremonial gestures — they mark a firm step toward building a health insurance system that is evidence-based and accountable. He said working with NBS will help align NHIA programmes with the real health needs of Nigerians.

Similarly, he emphasised that the MoU with SERVICOM was particularly symbolic as it coincided with Customer Service Week. With more than 20 million registered enrollees, he said the Authority’s priority is to guarantee quality service delivery across health facilities.

“Partnering with SERVICOM enables us to adopt a whole-of-government approach to resolving service delivery challenges,” Dr Ohiri explained. “This aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Universal Health Coverage agenda, which prioritises not just access but quality of care.”

He added that NHIA had introduced an Enrollee Charter, now available as a QR code at hospitals nationwide, to increase awareness and accountability. Dedicated desk officers have also been deployed to address complaints and ensure a better patient experience.

NBS to Drive Evidence-Based Insights

Speaking on behalf of NBS, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, the Statistician-General of the Federation, described the agreement as “a strategic commitment to harnessing the power of data for national development.” He highlighted that it was the first systematic integration of NBS’s statistical infrastructure with NHIA’s health data systems.

The collaboration, he explained, would focus on four key areas — data sharing and integration, joint research and analysis, capacity building, and policy support.

“This collaboration will enable Nigeria to accurately measure the impact of health insurance on poverty reduction, equity, and access to quality healthcare,” he said. “Both agencies will jointly produce research, surveys, and publications to track the sector’s contribution to health outcomes, national GDP, and overall economic growth.”

He also revealed that NHIA would join the Integrated System of Administrative Statistics (ISAS) — a platform that links data across more than 15 ministries and agencies to enhance national planning.