‘Why Tinubu Appointed Oloriegbe To Lead NHIA’

The appointment of Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is meant to improve the low rate of insurance coverage in the health sector. Representatives of Dr Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe (DIYO), his support group for good governance, disclosed this in Ilọrin on Wednesday during a press conference. DIYO said his appointment arrived at […]

The appointment of Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is meant to improve the low rate of insurance coverage in the health sector.

Representatives of Dr Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe (DIYO), his support group for good governance, disclosed this in Ilọrin on Wednesday during a press conference.

DIYO said his appointment arrived at a critical juncture when Nigeria’s health insurance coverage is alarmingly low, standing at only 7% of the population.

This, it noted, “starkly contrasts with the African Union’s target of achieving 90% by 2030”.

DIYO said given Oloriegbe’s wealth of health policy and administration expertise, it is optimistic that strategic interventions will effectively bridge this coverage gap.

It said Oloriegbe as a former chairman of the Senate committee on health shaped the policies that govern healthcare deliveries in Nigeria and played a crucial role in the health reforms.

“He sponsored the NHIA Act 2022 and over 10 health related bills as a legislator with over 40 years of extensive clinical experience with comprehensive insights into the Nigerian healthcare system”, it added.

The group thanked president Tinubu for his foresight, describing the appointment as ‘consequential’ for the health sector.

“In selecting Oloriegbe, the President appointed a healthcare professional with extensive experience exceeding three decades. His medical practice and legislative advocacy accomplishments have marked him as a pioneer in improving Nigeria’s healthcare landscape”, it submitted.

The Director General of DIYO, who addressed the newsmen, Alhaji Abdulwaheed Piri, further attributed the appointment to the loyalty of Oloriegbe to the APC which began from the days of ACN.

“Sen Oloriegbe’s unwavering commitment to our party, from the days of ACN when he was the party’s flag bearer for the Senatorial election in 2011 to becoming a Senator under the APC in 2019, manifests the principle that loyalty to party values is duly acknowledged and appreciated”, he noted.

He thanked Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his “indispensable role” in the appointment.

DIYO pledged to mobilise grassroots support for NHIA initiatives and provide regular feedback mechanisms to enhance service delivery and stakeholders engagement.