On a quiet Saturday in Abuja, two agencies with different mandates found common ground in a shared mission: to make Nigeria’s healthcare system more transparent and effective.
When Director-General of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr Kelechi Ohiri, visited his counterpart at the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr Adebowale Adedokun, the meeting quickly moved beyond courtesy.
It turned into a pledge to strengthen accountability and expand access to medical care.
Call For Stronger Systems
Dr Adedokun praised Dr Ohiri’s recent reforms and called his leadership both pragmatic and timely.
Furthermore, he reminded his guest that although procurement and health insurance operate in different spaces, both rely on good governance to deliver results.
He then warned that a weak healthcare system costs lives, drives up youth mortality and worsens economic strain.
Moving forward, Dr Adedokun promised that BPP would support NHIA through capacity building, public sensitisation and enforcement of reforms.
He stressed that such efforts could rebuild public confidence in the national health insurance scheme.
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Reform Agenda In Action
In response, Dr Ohiri explained that the partnership aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s healthcare renewal agenda.
He highlighted several reforms: a 95% rise in provider tariffs and hospital capitation, the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, and new circulars directing health management organisations to serve enrolees more effectively.
Moreover, NHIA introduced a PR Code to guide citizens on their benefits and enforced mandatory enrolment for ministries, departments and agencies.
Yet, Dr Ohiri acknowledged that reforms succeed only with stronger systems.
Therefore, he requested BPP’s assistance in training procurement staff and embedding compliance across the sector.
By the end of the meeting, both leaders affirmed their commitment.
They vowed to sustain the partnership, drive transparency and accountability, and ensure wider healthcare access for Nigerians.
