Hon (Dr) Sam Okoli, Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDOE), Austria, has stated that a joint NIDOE and National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Health Insurance Fund (NNHIF) would be a channel through which Nigerians in Diaspora can Support the Health Insurance Coverage for vulnerable Nigerians.
Hon. Okoli made the disclosure at a virtual Lecture organised by the Health Committee of NIDOE, under the leadership of Pastor Peters Osawaru Omoragbon and Hon Enny Wemimo Secretary, which took place on Sunday, April 12, 2026.
He said in more than a decade of its existence, the NHIA in Nigeria covers approximately only 5% to 7% of the population, adding that the scheme faces challenges including low enrolment in the formal sector, limited uptake in the informal sector (that constitutes about 75% of the economy), virtually unknown in the rural communities, and related implementation hurdles.
As a result, according to him, millions of Nigerians lack access to affordable healthcare due mainly to high out-of-pocket medical expenses, while the rural and vulnerable populations are most affected. He said that Diaspora often pay for emergency medical bills instead of preventive care.
Dr Okoli stated that the government should give millions of Nigerians access to affordable healthcare, reduce/eliminate high out-of-pocket medical expenses, improve quality of life for rural, vulnerable millions of Nigerians, and engage the Diaspora to fund health insurance for vulnerable Nigerians.
He stated that Nigerians in Europe send billions of USD in remittances yearly and that much of the billions of USD goes to emergency medical payments, he said therefore that a structured insurance scheme could transform current system, and ensure wider and preventive healthcare coverage for all.
He maintained that Diaspora powered health insurance coverage means that NIDOE provides a ready network to mobilise contributions, that Diaspora members can pay annual premiums, sponsor specific beneficiaries, support vulnerable communities, contribute to the solidarity health fund, adding that this would transform the Diaspora support into predictable, scalable, healthcare financing.
The initiative he said would ensure Nigerians living in Europe directly fund health insurance coverage for:
Elderly parents, low-income relatives, vulnerable community members, orphans and widows, rural households, and friends.
Explaining how the model would work, he averred that all that the Nigerians in Diaspora needed to do is to register through NIDOE platform, select beneficiaries (parents, relatives, friends, vulnerable compatriots); pay annual premiums. He said the funds would go to NHIA health insurance fund, and this will ensure beneficiaries receive health insurance access.
Dr Okoli said the expected impact is numerous, “Increased healthcare access for Nigerians, especially vulnerable Nigerians, reduced catastrophic Health spending, Strengthen diaspora engagement, Support for national health insurance coverage and improved health status for millions of Nigerians
To ensure Governance and transparency, he stated that there would be joint oversight by NIDOE and NHIA, Transparent digital contribution platform, and benefitciary verification and Annual impact reporting and auditing.
He called on NIDOE to endorse the initiative, establish NIDOE/NHIA task force, launch the diaspora awareness campaign and begin pilot implementation.
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