Gabriel Ameh
ABUJA — The Director-General of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr. Kelechi Oheri, says the agency will intensify reforms to improve healthcare access for Nigerians despite earning a strong performance rating in an independent systems review.
Speaking after the presentation of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)’s systems review report, Oheri described the assessment as an important external evaluation that provides a clear picture of the agency’s strengths and areas requiring improvement.
According to him, the NHIA received a 73 percent score, which the reviewers classified as an ‘A’ grade, reflecting the significant reforms undertaken by the agency over the past two and a half years.
He said the achievement demonstrates the commitment of NHIA staff toward implementing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of achieving Universal Health Coverage while strengthening the institution’s internal governance systems.
“The review gives us an independent mirror. We may believe we are doing our best, but it is different when an external body objectively assesses our systems and tells us where we are performing well and where improvements are needed,” Oheri said.
The NHIA boss, however, stressed that the agency would not become complacent because of the positive rating.
“Seventy-three percent is encouraging, but it is not a reason to relax. Our responsibility is to ensure that every reform translates into better healthcare services for ordinary Nigerians. We still have work to do,” he said.
Oheri explained that the agency remains focused on addressing complaints relating to delays in accessing healthcare services and improving service delivery across accredited healthcare facilities.
As part of efforts to improve responsiveness, he disclosed that the NHIA has deployed staff to hospitals across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to promptly identify and resolve issues affecting enrollees.
“They are stationed directly in healthcare facilities instead of reporting to the office every day. Their responsibility is to ensure that complaints are resolved quickly and that beneficiaries receive the services they are entitled to,” he explained.
The Director-General also highlighted improvements in the agency’s financial management system, noting that NHIA has moved away from manual cash-book processes to fully digitized financial operations.
He added that the agency had successfully cleared inherited audit backlogs, enabling it to produce financial statements promptly while strengthening accountability and transparency in the management of public resources.
According to Oheri, although legacy challenges remain within Nigeria’s health sector, continuous collaboration among stakeholders will be essential to delivering sustainable healthcare reforms and expanding access to quality health services nationwide.
