LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Federal Government has directed app-based transport, food delivery, and logistics companies in Nigeria to provide health insurance access for workers operating on their platforms under the NHIA Act 2022.
The new directive requires mandatory health insurance schemes for digital platform operators to cover drivers, dispatch riders, delivery workers, and independent contractors using their apps.
The order, issued by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) in a notice dated May 15, was signed by the agency’s Director of the Formal Sector Department, Ajodi N.N., on behalf of the Director-General Chief Executive Officer.
According to NHIA, the decision follows the September 2025 presidential directive that made health insurance mandatory for all legal residents.
The notice, addressed to all app-based transport logistics operators in Nigeria, stated that the policy is backed by the National Health Insurance Authority Act 2022, which legally mandates health insurance coverage nationwide.
“The NHIA, in line with the mandate of the NHIA Act, hereby issues a notification to all location-based platforms within the food delivery, app-based transport and logistics sectors to ensure all independent contractors and self-employed persons working on platforms have access to health insurance coverage,” the notice read.
Furthermore, the NHIA warned that compliance with health insurance obligations will now play a major role in obtaining licenses and permitting regulatory approvals.
The authority also stressed that any employer or employee who fails to comply with the law is in direct violation of the NHIA Act 2022.
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The development comes amid increasing concerns over the welfare of gig economy workers in Nigeria.
Many ride-hailing drivers and dispatch riders currently pay medical bills from their personal income because they lack employer-supported insurance coverage.
In recent years, Nigeria’s digital transport delivery sector has expanded rapidly due to rising urbanization, unemployment, and increasing demand for online services.
Major platforms including Uber, Bolt, food delivery startups logistics firms have attracted thousands of workers seeking flexible income opportunities.
However, many of these workers operate as independent contractors instead of full-time employees, a situation that has continued to trigger debates around labour rights, social protection, and healthcare benefits.
The NHIA Act signed into law in 2022 replaced the former National Health Insurance Scheme Act.
The law expanded the Federal Government’s push toward achieving universal health coverage by making health insurance compulsory for every Nigerian legal resident.
Under the framework, state governments are also expected to establish health insurance schemes that can improve access to affordable healthcare services across the country.
Despite the policy framework, millions of Nigerians still lack formal health insurance coverage, while out-of-pocket spending remains one of the biggest sources of healthcare financing in the country.
