Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, Director-General of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), announced the milestone on Tuesday in Abuja during the Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Association of Insurance and Pension Editors (NAIPE). He attributed the double-digit growth to deeper alliances with State Social Health Insurance Agencies (SSHIAs), ministries, organized labor, and the enforcement of the NHIA Act’s mandatory insurance clauses.

Transitioning from policy to execution, Ohiri noted that consistent and accountable implementation is now the defining factor in converting political commitments into visible clinical access for citizens.

To safeguard this expanding pool of beneficiaries, the NHIA has upgraded its oversight framework. The agency has resolved 3,878 customer grievances—representing an 87 percent resolution rate—and successfully recovered over ₦14.2 million in refunds for shortchanged enrollees. A new one-hour maximum wait time for emergency care has also been instituted to ensure timely treatment.

Simultaneously, the authority has restructured its medical provider payouts to keep pace with operational costs. Capitation fees disbursed to hospitals rose by 93 percent, while fee-for-service reimbursements spiked by 378 percent, giving clinics the financial liquidity needed to upgrade infrastructure and retain personnel. Furthermore, 7,592 healthcare facilities nationwide have undergone clinical assessments under the SafeCare quality index.

Rounding out the expansion strategy, the NHIA has directed targeted funding to vulnerable demographics. Dedicated initiatives have already extended maternal and newborn medical services to more than 48,500 pregnant women, alongside specialized coverage allocations tailored specifically for pensioners and retirees.

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The award underscores the company’s consistent commitment to providing quality healthcare through innovative health insurance solutions, customer-focused services and sustained investments in healthcare delivery.

Speaking on the achievement, the Managing Director of Leadway Health, Dr. Tokunbo Alli, described the recognition as a reflection of the organisation’s dedication to excellence, innovation and delivering value to its members.

He attributed the milestone to the trust of customers, the support of healthcare providers and the commitment of employees, adding that the award would inspire the company to continue improving healthcare access across Nigeria.

Leadway Health said it has continued to strengthen its operations through investments in digital health solutions, including telemedicine services and technology-driven innovations that enhance customer experience.

The company noted that the latest recognition comes as healthcare financing assumes greater importance in improving health outcomes and expanding access to quality medical care.

It reaffirmed its commitment to working with healthcare providers, employers and policymakers to make affordable healthcare more accessible to Nigerians.

Leadway Health said it will continue developing innovative health insurance solutions that improve healthcare delivery while supporting the long-term growth of Nigeria’s healthcare system.

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The funding is expected to consolidate recent gains in population health outcomes and disease control while ensuring that more Nigerians, regardless of their location or socio-economic status, have access to essential healthcare services.

The approval was one of the key resolutions reached at the 15th Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) meeting on the National Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp), and Government and Donor-Funded Programmes and Initiatives.

The meeting was co-chaired by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, and the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako.

During the meeting, the committee reviewed key performance indicators, financial reports, programme implementation milestones, and emerging priorities requiring policy attention. Members also identified strategic measures to address implementation bottlenecks and agreed on timelines for delivering priority interventions ahead of the next quarterly review.

The committee reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration among government institutions and development partners to reinforce Nigeria’s health system and accelerate the delivery of impactful healthcare interventions nationwide.

The latest funding injection underscores the Federal Government’s continued efforts to improve healthcare financing, increase access to quality primary healthcare services, and build a more resilient health system capable of meeting the needs of Nigerians.

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By adding Karis to their WhatsApp contacts, more than 300,000 AXA Mansard Health enrollees can now instantly obtain treatment approvals, confirm authorizations, check their plan status, and view their specific benefits. Additionally, the bot allows users to purchase health plans and request immediate assistance during medical emergencies.

Tope Adeniyi, the CEO of AXA Mansard Health Limited, stated that the launch is a direct reflection of the organisation’s customer-first philosophy, noting that they stop at nothing to ensure healthcare access is simple, affordable, and convenient.

Adeniyi acknowledged that the traditional manual authorization process prior to receiving treatment has long been a significant pain point for patients, often discouraging people from visiting the hospital.

By shifting this process to a ubiquitous and familiar platform like WhatsApp, the company aims to eliminate those administrative hurdles entirely.

Through Karis, enrollees at the point of care can now experience faster service speed and enjoy greater autonomy.

Patients can interact with the bot to instantly check what their plans cover, or search for nearby hospitals and specialist healthcare providers, making the entire healthcare experience highly personalized.

According to the organisation, the introduction of Karis is part of a broader strategy to leverage digital innovation to enhance service delivery and improve overall customer experience. By streamlining support, the chatbot empowers enrollees to focus entirely on their well-being rather than administrative paperwork.

AXA Mansard Health views this initiative as part of its ongoing commitment to leading digital healthcare solutions in Nigeria, making it easier for citizens to manage their health and access timely care with confidence.

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The intervention was designed to combat the continued spread of malaria by equipping residents with vital information, preventive support, and practical resources needed to reduce infection rates, especially among expectant mothers and women caring for infants.

Considering Nigeria’s heavy malaria burden, the company prioritised efforts aimed at encouraging healthier practices, increasing understanding of disease prevention, and expanding access to protective materials in communities most exposed to the illness.

Through the programme, insecticide-treated mosquito nets were provided to vulnerable women, while educational activities enlightened participants on prevention methods, prompt testing, and proper treatment. Community sensitisation exercises also promoted cleaner surroundings and encouraged residents to seek medical attention early.

AIICO stated that the initiative reflects its long-term commitment to safeguarding maternal and child wellbeing, strengthening community health systems, and supporting sustainable disease control measures through continuous grassroots engagement.

The project further encouraged cooperation between private organisations and public healthcare institutions to improve outreach effectiveness and create enduring benefits for local populations.

By supporting malaria prevention efforts, AIICO continues to demonstrate its broader mission of contributing positively to society through impactful and sustainable health-focused interventions.

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The company said the transition reflects the evolution of its integrated health insurance and wellness solutions while maintaining continuity for existing clients.
The rebrand also introduces broader healthcare services designed to meet the changing needs of employers and employees across Nigeria and other African markets.

In Nigeria, Discovery Health – Global Health Solutions will continue its partnership with Leadway Health HMO, a collaboration that began in 2022, to provide localized healthcare solutions for businesses and their workforce.

Chief Executive Officer of Discovery Health – Global Health Solutions, Emma Knox, stated that although the business name has changed, its commitment to improving health outcomes and protecting lives remains unchanged.

According to Knox, the new structure will support future growth through partnerships with local insurers across Africa while also enabling the company to expand into additional healthcare solutions, including Administration Services Only (ASO), a managed healthcare administration offering.

Leadway Health HMO, a subsidiary of Leadway Holdings, remains the company’s Nigerian insurance partner. Knox noted that the partnership has strengthened Discovery Health’s ability to scale healthcare solutions in the country.

Also speaking, Leadway Health CEO, Dr. Tokunbo Alli, said the continued collaboration reflects both organizations’ shared commitment to improving access to quality healthcare for employers and employees in Nigeria.

Discovery Health added that employers across Africa would continue to benefit from its 34 years of experience in healthcare administration and managed care, supported by advanced clinical governance, risk management systems, and healthcare data capabilities.

The company said the rebrand aligns with its vision of building an integrated healthcare ecosystem that combines health insurance, wellness programmes, and healthcare administration services on a single platform across Africa.

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In a release, the health authority disclosed that the affected individual has been placed in isolation and is in stable condition, receiving care in accordance with national treatment protocols.

The agency stated that containment steps such as contact identification, active monitoring, and infection control procedures have been deployed in partnership with the Cross River State Ministry of Health and other stakeholders.

Residents were encouraged to uphold good hygiene practices, stay indoors when feeling ill, and depend on information from verified health institutions.

The Cross River State Government, however acknowledged the case, assuring residents that the situation is being managed and does not warrant panic.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Ayuk, identified the patient as a 53-year-old Chinese national employed by a company in Akamkpa Local Government Area.

He noted that the individual showed mild symptoms at first and was later admitted to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, where samples were taken and the infection was confirmed.

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Prof Adeyeye gave the admonition at a stakeholders’ engagement on the draft NAFDAC Reduction of Sodium in Pre-Packaged Foods Regulations 2026where she noted that excessive sodium intake has been identified as one of the leading dietary risk factors contributing to these conditions.

According to her, the World Health Organisation has continued to emphasize sodium reduction as one of the cost-effective strategies for improving population heath and preventing premature deaths from non-communicable diseases.  

In Nigeria, Prof Adeyeye said, changing dietary patterns, rapid urbanisation, and increased consumption of processed and pre-packaged foods have significantly contributed to higher sodium intake among our population.

She added that recognising this emerging public health concern, the Federal Government – through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and NAFDAC – has taken proactive steps to address this challenge.

She maintained that the Reduction of Sodium in Pe-Packaged Foods Regulations  2026 is a key component of broader strategies  to promote healthier diets and prevent non-communicable diseases, adding that these regulations aim to establish maximum sodium limits in selected categories of processed and pre-packaged foods, ensure clear and transparent labelling of sodium content, and encourage product reformulation by food manufacturers so that consumers can make healthier dietary choices.  

The NAFDAC boss, however, pointed out that, regulations alone cannot achieve the desired impact without the active participation of all stakeholders, stressing that the food industry especially plays a central role in reformulating products to reduce sodium content while maintaining safety, quality, and consumer acceptability.

At the same time, she emphasized that regulators, researchers, public health advocates, and consumer organisations must work collaboratively to ensure implementation, monitoring and compliance. Cardiovascular Unit, University of Abuja that was present at the Meeting has worked closely with the FMOH&SW and NAFDAC on sodium reduction is in support of the regulations.

Partners such as Network for Health Equity and Development NHED resolve to Save Lives and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa CAPPA who were present and supported the stakeholders’ engagement underscored the importance of reducing sodium intake as a means of preventing non-communicable diseases.  

She added that the stakeholder engagement therefore provides an invaluable platform to:

• Present and clarify the key provisions of the proposed regulations.

• Obtain constructive feedback from industry and other stakeholders.

• Identify practical strategies for implementation.

• Strengthen collaboration in advancing healthier food environments in Nigeria.

At NAFDAC, DG explained, ‘we recognise that regulatory reforms must be evidence-based, transparent, and inclusive. Our goal is not to disrupt industry operations, but to work with all partners to create a food system that supports both public health and sustainable economy.’

Prof Adeyeye stated that the reduction of sodium in our food supply is not merely a regulatory obligation – it is a national health priority, adding that ‘by taking decisive action today, we are protecting future generations from preventable diseases and improving the overall wellbeing of Nigerians.’

The Director, Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (FSAN), Mrs Eva Edwards, corroborated the DG’s position as she stated that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) remain a major public health concern in Nigeria, with cardiovascular diseases accounting for a significant proportion of morbidity and mortality.

For adults, she disclosed that the World Health Organization recommends a daily sodium intake of less than 2 grams, equivalent to 5 grams of salt (< 1 teaspoon of salt daily).

She however, revealed that available data indicate that the average salt consumption in Nigeria is approximately 10 grams per day, about twice the WHO daily recommendation, adding that   this excessive intake poses a serious risk to public health, particularly in the context of the increasing consumption of processed and ultra-processed foods, which are major contributors to dietary sodium intake.

‘Pre-packaged foods constitute a substantial and growing proportion of daily dietary intake, especially in urban settings. While these foods provide convenience and accessibility, they also contribute significantly to excessive sodium consumption, driving the scourge of cardiovascular diseases,’ adding that It is therefore imperative that deliberate and evidence-based measures are implemented to reduce sodium levels in these products.

While sodium is essential for normal physiological functions such as nerve transmission, fluid balance, and muscle function, she warned that the quantity required by the body is minimal, noting that current consumption levels far exceed physiological needs, thereby increasing the risk of hypertension, stroke, heart disease, and kidney-related conditions.

She disclosed that evidence from the National Multi-sectoral Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (2019–2025) indicates that mean sodium intake in Nigeria ranges from approximately 2.85 g/day to 10 g/day – highlighting the urgent need for targeted regulatory and public health interventions.

‘The National Multi-sectoral Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases further identifies unhealthy diets as a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases and notes the ongoing dietary transition towards increased consumption of processed foods high in sodium, sugar, and trans fats.’

In recognition of this growing public health challenge, and as part of efforts to reduce sodium intake, Mrs Edwards stated that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMoH&SW) initiated the development of the National Guidelines for Sodium Reduction, which provides specific sodium benchmarks for various food categories.

She said this is aimed at promoting the reformulation of processed foods and encouraging the production of healthier options aligned with national health goals.

She emphasised that the draft NAFDAC Reduction of Sodium in Pre-Packaged Foods Regulations therefore incorporates a phased sodium reduction strategy, beginning with an initial 15% reduction target and progressing toward the national target which is aligned with the WHO global target of achieving a 30% reduction in population sodium intake by 2030.

According to Mrs Edwards, the Sodium Reduction Regulations represent a strategic regulatory response to meet the national target and address the public health concern of high sodium intake, stressing that the objective is to guide the food industry towards gradual product reformulation and the promotion of healthier food environments, without compromising product quality or consumer acceptance, ultimately to protect the health of consumers.

Noting that government alone cannot achieve this, Mrs Edwards stated that it requires the collective effort of policymakers, regulators, the food industry, public health advocates, academia, and consumers.

The Director General rounded up the meeting by emphasizing the importance of the stakeholders meeting stating that inputs received are used to further edit the draft regulations before the document goes to the NAFDAC Governing Council for further assessment.

Thereafter, the regulations are given additional review by FMoH&SW and Ministry of Justice before gazetting.  Meanwhile, the food industry is made aware of the development of the regulations and the expectations in the planned phased reduction of sodium content in processed foods as means of prevention of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and other heart diseases in the population.

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The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this in a statement, that the ministry has already begun discussions with Airbus, Europe’s foremost aerospace corporation, on the establishment of Nigeria’s new Integrated National Ground-to-Air Health Emergency Management System.

The statement added that the minister met with Airbus officials and took the opportunity to inspect an Airbus Emergency Care Helicopter at a French government-backed air ambulance facility in Lyon, France.

According to the minister, the project forms part of the Federal Government’s wider health sector reform and investment programme aimed at strengthening emergency medical services nationwide.

“As part of the health sector renewal investment programme, we are broadening Nigeria’s public health infrastructure alongside enhancing private sector capacity for healthcare delivery, including emergency response services.

The National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance Scheme is currently being overhauled with the introduction of urban ambulances for cities and emergency response systems for rural communities. We are now also exploring helicopter-based emergency medical services.”

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The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare convened key stakeholders, development partners, healthcare professionals, and policy experts to reflect on this year’s global theme, “Together for Health, Stand with Science.”

The event underscored Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to advance scientific innovation, research-led decision-making, and community engagement in addressing emerging health challenges while improving overall health outcomes nationwide.

Speaking at a ministerial briefing in Abuja, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Isiak Salako, stressed that science remains the bedrock of effective disease prevention, vaccination programmes, pandemic preparedness, and the management of communicable as well as non-communicable diseases.

As Nigeria commemorates World Health Day 2026, the government reaffirmed that building resilient health systems requires collective action, sustained investment, and steadfast support for science as a driving force for national and global health security.

This version keeps the trustworthy news tone while sounding more polished and publication-ready.

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