The Director-General of the Cross River State Health Insurance Agency, Dr. Godwin Iyala, has reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for all residents of the state. Speaking with journalists upon his return from the maiden National Summit of State Social Health Insurance Agencies (SSHIAs), held from June 8 to 9, 2026, at the International Culture and Event Centre in Akure, Ondo State, Dr. Iyala highlighted the summit’s role in shaping strategies for expanding health insurance coverage.
Summit Focus on Sustainable Financing
Organized by the Forum of CEOs of SSHIAs under the theme “Economic Realities and the Universal Health Coverage Dream: Mobilising States for a Scalable Health Insurance Future,” the summit brought together government officials, regulatory agencies, financial institutions, development partners, policymakers, and health sector stakeholders. Discussions centered on reducing catastrophic healthcare expenditure, strengthening collaboration, and identifying sustainable health financing models. Dr. Iyala noted that the Cross River delegation gained valuable insights into new strategies for improving service delivery and expanding coverage.
Networking and Collaboration
The event also provided an opportunity for participants to network with health insurance stakeholders from across Nigeria, aiming to strengthen the Cross River State scheme. Dr. Iyala expressed gratitude to the Cross River State Government and its partners for their continued support in creating an enabling environment for health insurance to thrive.
Communiqué Calls for Mandatory Coverage
At the summit’s conclusion, stakeholders issued a communiqué calling for mandatory health insurance coverage for all residents as a key step toward achieving UHC and reducing out-of-pocket healthcare spending. The communiqué identified several obstacles to UHC, including trust deficits, weak ICT infrastructure, governance concerns, difficulties enrolling informal sector populations, the lingering impact of COVID-19, and concerns over service quality, accountability, and sustainability.
Key Recommendations
Participants agreed that state governments should strengthen political commitment to UHC by ensuring mandatory coverage and establishing clear legal frameworks for health insurance laws. The summit recommended harmonization between federal and state schemes, stronger regulatory oversight, and a mixed financing model combining government budgetary allocations, mandatory contributions, and targeted subsidies for vulnerable groups.
Stakeholders urged states to consistently release counterpart and equity funds while exploring innovative financing options such as earmarked levies and public-private partnerships to guarantee long-term sustainability. The communiqué emphasized prioritizing informal sector workers, rural dwellers, women, children, and persons with disabilities in coverage expansion efforts. It also called for increased investments in primary healthcare infrastructure, workforce development, essential medicines, and digital health information systems.
Summit Attendance and Keynote
The summit was declared open by Ondo State Governor Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa. The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Simeon Onyemaechi, and goodwill messages were presented by key stakeholders, including the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Health, Dr. Salma Ibrahim. The Cross River delegation included members of the board and management of the Health Insurance Agency, agency staff, and representatives of the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency. Participants commended the organizers for providing a platform for collaboration and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening state health insurance systems nationwide.
