The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has launched a self-service health insurance portal, a digital platform that allows Nigerians to sign up for health insurance, manage their details, and activate coverage without visiting a physical office.
Unveiled on Wednesday during the National Health Financing Policy Dialogue in Abuja, themed “Reimagining the Future of Health Financing in Nigeria,” the portal is being labelled as a major step in Nigeria’s push toward universal health coverage.
“We are proud to introduce the NHIA Self-Service Portal, a tool designed to put health insurance directly in your hands,” the NHIA announced on its X handle. “With this portal, you can now enroll, manage your details, and secure your health, all from the convenience of your phone or computer.”
What You Should Know
The NHIA said the new platform provides multiple entry points depending on a user’s status. Nigerians not yet enrolled in any NHIA plan can now register directly online.
Existing enrollees can log in to manage their accounts, while National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members have a dedicated option to activate their mandatory health insurance digitally, it added.
The NHIA claims the login system accepts an email address, phone number, or National Identification Number (NIN), with a password reset option for ease of access.
According to the NHIA, the portal is designed as a one-stop hub for enrollment, plan activation, and account management, cutting down on the bureaucracy and delays that have long discouraged participation.
Why It Matters
Observers say the portal launch makes health insurance easier for all Nigerians. By digitizing enrollment and verification, the NHIA hopes to lower barriers for underserved groups and accelerate universal coverage.
For ordinary Nigerians, who often face long queues and paperwork at NHIA offices, the portal promises relief.
“I like the idea because it means I don’t have to go to an office or stand in a queue just to enroll,” said Ibrahim Suleiman, a 26-year-old tailor in Lagos. “If it works well on my phone, I will sign up quickly.”
Others see it as a way to finally take health insurance seriously, and feel the portal is a step in the right direction.
“This is good for people like me who never bothered with insurance before,” said Chinedu Prosper. “If it is really easy to register, more people will join. I think it will help families when hospital bills come.”
How Nigerians Can Benefit
- Easier enrollment – Nigerians can now sign up for health insurance directly from their phone or computer without visiting NHIA offices.
- Faster NYSC activation – Corps members can activate their mandatory health coverage online, saving time and stress.
- 24/7 access – Users can log in anytime to update their details, track benefits, or reset forgotten credentials.
- Reduced costs and delays – By cutting paperwork and travel, the portal lowers both administrative and financial barriers.
- Wider health coverage – With simpler access, more Nigerians may adopt health insurance, reducing out-of-pocket expenses during emergencies.
According to health financing experts, the portal could help tackle Nigeria’s longstanding insurance gap but warn that implementation is key.
“This platform can expand access, especially for young people, but without strong digital literacy campaigns and reliable infrastructure, adoption may remain slow,” said Kemi Adeyanju, a health consultant in Lagos.
The Bigger Picture
Nigeria, with an estimated population of over 230 million people, remains one of the most underinsured countries in Africa.
According to a 2024 public opinion poll by NOIPolls, just 19 percent of adult Nigerians are currently covered by a health insurance policy. The vast majority; about 79 percent are not covered by health schemes, and still pay for healthcare directly out of pocket.
This reflects long-standing concerns over Nigeria’s low insurance uptake. A Dataphyte report from December 2021 revealed that as much as 97 percent of the country’s population had no form of health insurance at the time, underscoring how far the nation has to go in achieving broad coverage.
Health economists warn that this gap poses a significant barrier to universal health coverage. Analysts say the NHIA’s digital enrollment platform, if widely adopted, could help reverse this trend by making coverage more accessible and less bureaucratic.
Talking Points
The launch of the NHIA Self-Service Enrollment Portal is a notable step toward tackling Nigeria’s longstanding healthcare financing challenge. By shifting enrollment online, the NHIA is lowering the barriers that have kept many Nigerians outside the insurance system.
At Techparley, we see how such innovations could reshape the perception of health insurance in Nigeria, turning it from a bureaucratic burden into a practical tool for everyday protection against financial shocks.
Still, adoption will depend on more than technology. Issues like poor digital literacy, patchy internet access, and mistrust of government systems could slow progress. Ensuring strong communication, user education, and reliable service delivery will be critical.
In the long run, the portal could serve as a test case for how Nigeria leverages digital reforms to reduce out-of-pocket healthcare spending, protect vulnerable households, and move closer to universal health coverage.
