Nigeria approves ₦40.8bn health fund and inmate insurance

The Nigerian Federal Government has approved a ₦40.76 billion disbursement under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) for the third quarter of 2026. This allocation represents an increase of approximately ₦7.88 billion compared to the previous quarter.

Key components of the funding include ₦19.87 billion for the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), ₦18.34 billion for the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), ₦2.04 billion for the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (NEMSAS), and ₦509.48 million for the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

A significant portion of this initiative involves extending health insurance coverage to approximately 90,000 prison inmates nationwide. The NHIA will collaborate with the Nigerian Correctional Service to provide this coverage, aiming to support vulnerable populations and build a more sustainable healthcare financing system that reduces reliance on donor funding. Plans are also underway to expand BHCPF support from 8,309 to 13,521 primary healthcare facilities across the country.