Wednesday, September 24, 2025 - The Federal Government has promised that members of the Nigerian Armed Forces will be fully integrated into the National Health Insurance Authority, guaranteeing access to comprehensive healthcare for service members, their families, and eligible retirees.
The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, made the
disclosure on Tuesday in Abuja during the celebration of the 20th anniversary
of the Ministry of Defence Health Implementation Programme’s partnership with
the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research Africa.
Matawalle said the initiative would strengthen the
resilience of Nigeria’s defence health system while ensuring that soldiers and
their dependents enjoy the same health safeguards as other citizens under the
NHIA.
“We must shape the next 20 years with national security and
the National Health Insurance Authority, ensuring that our forces are covered
by national health and well-being safeguards for service members, their
families, and eligible civilians—extending across postings and into
retirement,” he said.
The minister stressed that the health of the military was a
matter of national security, noting that preventive healthcare and insurance
coverage would guarantee operational readiness.
“The health of our armed forces is preserved for the
security of our nation. When illness is prevented, protection and unity remain
operational missions,” he added.
Matawalle also pointed out that the defence health
partnership had already impacted more than half a million Nigerians, both
military and civilians, saving lives, building infrastructure, and boosting
public confidence in military-led healthcare.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, said
the NHIA integration was a crucial step in ensuring that soldiers remained fit
to defend the country.
He described the 20-year-old partnership with Walter Reed as
a model of international collaboration that had already transformed Nigeria’s
military health system.
According to him, the partnership, founded on “service,
science, and sacrifice,” had strengthened 32 military health facilities across
the country, delivered far-reaching benefits to civilian communities, and
preserved the lives of thousands of soldiers and civilians through
interventions in HIV prevention, COVID-19 response, and other disease outbreaks
Musa added that investments in research, laboratory
infrastructure, and training had placed Nigeria in a strong position to respond
to future health threats.
He cited the Defence Reference Laboratory in
Abuja—accredited by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation—as a
landmark facility and a symbol of best practice.
“Beyond the statistics and infrastructure, we must recognise
the human narratives of resilience and hope facilitated by this partnership,”
Musa said.
The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills Jr.,
described the partnership as a demonstration of mutual trust and respect
between Nigeria and the U.S., noting that it had preserved military readiness,
tackled global health challenges, and saved countless lives.
Commanding General of the U.S. Army Medical Research and
Development Command, Major General Paula Lodi, said the partnership had grown
from a shared vision in 2005 to confront HIV, malaria, and other infectious
diseases, while building laboratory and research capacities that influenced
health policy beyond Nigeria’s borders.
“Together, we have delivered life-saving treatment, fostered
innovation, and trained professionals who continue to strengthen health
systems—not just for today’s challenges, but for those of the future,” she
said.
Since its inception, the programme has recorded significant
milestones. A total of 1,628,414 clients have been tested and counselled for
HIV, out of which 110,097 tested positive. About 69,447 adults and children
have been newly initiated on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), with 40,702
currently on treatment. In all, 77,162 adults and children have ever been
enrolled on ART.
In addition, 277,975 pregnant women now know their HIV
status, 15,098 of them tested positive, and 13,377 received ART to prevent
mother-to-child transmission of the disease.
Matawalle said these figures underscored the importance of
integrating military personnel into health insurance coverage, which would
guarantee not only sustainability of care but also long-term operational
effectiveness.
“As we mark this anniversary, we renew our collective
resolve to keep the health of our armed forces at the heart of national
defence. The force that guarantees peace is resilience and mission orientation.
Let us commit to leaving behind a defence health system that is not only
robust, but innovative, intensive, and spiritually prepared for future threats,
while safeguarding the well-being of the men and women who serve our country,”
the minister declared.
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