Public health reform relies on active citizen engagement and transparency to ensure every promise translates into impact. At the CSO/Media-Led Mid-Year Review of Nigeria’s Health Sector Reforms and Policy Dialogue, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) shared measurable progress on its drive toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, Director-General of the NHIA, emphasized a core commitment aimed at building a national system where the ability to pay no longer determines whether a mother or her baby survives. Central to this effort are equity-driven programmes: the NHIA Financing Access to Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric & Newborn Care (CEmONC) initiative and the Fistula-Free Programme (FFP), designed to remove out-of-pocket barriers for vulnerable populations across all 36 states and the FCT. As of August 2026, over 93,000 women and newborns have been reached, including 79,221 mothers and 7,500 infants receiving life-saving maternal and neonatal services, alongside 6,044 women treated for obstetric fistula. This contributed to a 22% reduction in facility-based maternal mortality case-fatality rates (dropping from 1,042 per 100,000 in 2024 to 810). To sustain these gains, over 40,000 women have been enrolled under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), supported by 273 empaneled CEmONC facilities and 22 Fistula Centers. The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) will continue to make huge strides in advancing Nigeria’s journey toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC), in collaboration with stakeholders in the healthcare ecosystem. By deploying equity-driven health financing and targeted national interventions, the NHIA is reshaping how healthcare is accessed and delivered across Nigeria, ensuring that financial capacity no longer dictates whether a mother or her newborn receives life-saving care.