In a move to address growing public frustration over idle government infrastructure, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Kunle Salako, has ordered a contractor to finish work on the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) office in Abeokuta within 30 days.
The Minister’s directive followed an unscheduled inspection of the site on Friday, triggered by a viral social media video that raised questions about the building’s apparent abandonment.
Resolving the Deadlock
During the walkthrough, Dr. Salako identified that the primary hurdle to the facility’s opening was a pending formal handover. While the structure appears complete to passersby, the contractor has yet to officially transfer the building to the NHIA due to outstanding deficiencies.
To break the administrative stalemate, the Minister demanded that all remaining technical issues be remedied immediately to allow the NHIA to begin full operations from the site by mid-March.
Government Commitment
Speaking to officials during the visit, Dr. Salako emphasized that the Federal Government would no longer tolerate delays in the deployment of critical health assets.
“Timely completion and utilisation of health facilities remain central to our ongoing efforts to expand access to affordable health insurance coverage across the country,” Salako stated. “We are committed to safeguarding public health infrastructure and ensuring that these assets are efficiently deployed to strengthen service delivery for all Nigerians.”
Next Steps for Reform
The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare confirmed it will maintain close oversight of the site over the next four weeks. The operationalization of this office is seen as a key step in the broader health reform agenda, specifically aimed at increasing insurance enrollment for the residents of Ogun State.
