News
NHIA Mandates One-Hour Patient Wait Limit For HMOs
Health Maintenance Organisations in Nigeria have been warned not to delay patients on health insurance plan more than one hour before receiving medical attention at their chosen healthcare facility.
This was disclosed by the Managing Director and CEO of Ultimate Health Management Services, Otunba Lekan Ewenla, during the firm’s 14th Annual General Meeting held in Abuja on Thursday.
Ewenla, a former governing council member of the National Health Insurance Scheme, revealed that the mandate came from the National Health Insurance Authority following a spike in complaints from enrollees about prolonged delays and neglect at health facilities.
“Too often, patients spend the entire day at hospitals before being seen. This is unacceptable. The NHIA has now directed that the maximum waiting time for any patient under the health insurance scheme must not exceed one hour,” Ewenla said.
He likened the NHIA’s role in the health sector to the regulatory functions of the Central Bank of Nigeria in banking and PENCOM in pensions, emphasizing its responsibility to enforce standards, monitor providers, and protect patient rights.
Reacting swiftly to the NHIA directive, Ultimate Health Management Services says it has not only complied but has surpassed the benchmark.
“Today, our average waiting time is just 10 minutes, and we are working to reduce it further to five minutes,” Ewenla said.
To achieve this, the firm has deployed robust health management software and introduced a pre-booking system, allowing patients to notify the HMO in advance of their intended hospital visit. The HMO then contacts the hospital to prepare for the patient’s arrival.
“We even place reminder calls to the hospital on the morning of the patient’s visit. This is in line with global best practices. Healthcare should not be approached casually,” he said.
Ewenla stressed that quality healthcare is a fundamental right, and health insurance is the gateway to accessing that right effectively.
In what he described as a strategic move, the health expert disclosed that Ultimate HMO has launched an initiative targeting Nigerians in the diaspora who wish to support the medical needs of their ageing parents and loved ones back home.
“Many Nigerians abroad send money back home for healthcare, but this one-off approach often fails due to lack of follow-up care,” Ewenla explained.
“We’ve created a system that allows diaspora Nigerians to pay a fixed premium and enroll their dependents in a structured health insurance plan.”
The pilot has already begun in the United States, where Ewenla recently held talks with the Nigerian Consulate in Atlanta, Georgia.
The outreach has extended to Nigerian-run churches, mosques, and grocery stores.
“We’re seeing growing interest from the diaspora, and we are pushing for regulatory backing to ensure wider enrollment and compliance,” he said.
Ewenla, however, noted that attitudinal change among Nigerians remains critical to success, citing a general lack of respect for systems and rules.
“We all see how Nigerians disregard simple traffic laws. The same attitude reflects in how we treat healthcare systems. That’s why we’re working closely with the government and regulatory bodies to change this narrative,” he added.
Also speaking at the AGM, the Board Chairman of Ultimate Health Management Services, Mrs. Angela Ajala, emphasized the need for HMOs to prioritize patient welfare and warned against the growing trend of delayed claims settlements by some organisations.
“We take the health and satisfaction of our enrollees very seriously. At Ultimate HMO, we ensure prompt settlement of claims because that’s the backbone of our service delivery,” Ajala said.
She urged stakeholders in the healthcare sector to embrace innovation and adapt to emerging challenges, including the rise in mental health needs, telemedicine, and care for children with special needs.
“We must be proactive. The expectations of patients are evolving, and we must think ahead to remain relevant,” she concluded.
Punchng.com
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested three suspected vote buyers in various parts of Anambra.
The suspects are Emeka Ilokasia arrested at Ward 2, Njikoka Local government, Anambra; Nwachuwu Loretta, arrested at Ward 2(008), Awkuzu, Oyi local government and Emuka Chuwudi, arrested at Umunachi village, Dukonukofia local government.
All the suspects were arrested while participating in the governorship election held on Saturday, November 8, 2025
They will be charged to court as soon as the anti-graft Commission concludes investigations.
Lagos, Nigeria – A tragic accident in Ikorodu, Lagos, has claimed the lives of three students of Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH) after a sand-laden truck lost control due to brake failure.
According to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the fatal accident occurred around Powerline Junction, inward Ikorodu Roundabout.
The sand-laden truck reportedly rammed into several vehicles and injuring seven others.
LASTMA spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq, who confirmed the incident in a statement, said the truck was travelling at high speed before it lost control and collided with multiple vehicles and tricycles along the busy corridor.
“In an incident of profound tragedy that cast a pall of grief over the Ikorodu metropolis, three promising students at the Lagos State University of Science and Technology, Ikorodu — two males and one female — lost their lives instantaneously in a fatal multiple-vehicle collision,” Taofiq said.
He added that seven others, including tricycle operators, sustained serious injuries in the horrifying crash.
The vehicles involved included a sand-laden tipper (unregistered), a Toyota Corolla (SMK 42 AJ), an MPV bus, and four tricycles.
PRESS RELEASE
THREE LASUSTECH STUDENTS PERISH IN FATAL MULTI-VEHICLE COLLISION AS LASTMA PERSONNEL RESCUE SEVEN OTHERS AT POWERLINE JUNCTION, INWARD IKORODU
In an incident of profound tragedy that cast a pall of grief over the Ikorodu metropolis, three promising students of the… pic.twitter.com/H8MmC5Vtke
— LASTMA (@followlastma) November 8, 2025
LASTMA said preliminary investigations by traffic operatives revealed that the truck’s excessive speed and mechanical brake failure caused the driver to lose control, leading to the deadly crash.
Emergency responders from LASTMA, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Nigeria Police were quickly mobilized to the scene.
Taofiq said the injured victims were rushed to nearby hospitals, while the remains of the deceased students were deposited at the Ikorodu General Hospital mortuary.
“Together, they swiftly conveyed seven critically injured victims to nearby medical facilities for urgent treatment, while the three deceased casualties were evacuated and deposited at the General Hospital, Ikorodu mortuary,” the statement read
LASTMA also confirmed that the wrecked vehicles had been removed to restore free vehicular movement in the area.
Reacting to the tragedy, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed sadness over the deaths, describing the crash as “avoidable.”
Bakare-Oki urged truck operators and commercial drivers to maintain their vehicles and avoid over speeding. “This tragedy is avoidable. Over speeding, poor vehicle maintenance, and defective braking systems continue to cause, on Lagos roads,” he lamented.
Shi’ite members in Kano protested President Donald Trump’s “false genocide claim” and invasion threat in Nigeria
Protesters who dragged and burned the U.S. flag accused Trump of inciting religious division
The movement also called for unity amongst citizens, saying Nigeria’s problems are political, not religious
Kano, Nigeria – Tension erupted in parts of Kano on Saturday, November 8, as members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), popularly known as Shi’ites, took to the streets to protest the recent statement by United States President Donald Trump threatening to invade Nigeria.
The protest, which took place in several parts of the Kano metropolis, saw large crowds chanting anti-US slogans while carrying placards expressing displeasure with the alleged remarks.
The members are described as “a dangerous and false narrative” by the U.S. president. The Islamic Movement in Nigeria dismissed Trump’s remarks as “provocative, inflammatory, and deeply misleading.”
A spokesperson for the movement, Abdullahi Danladi of the IMN Resource Forum, told journalists during the protest that the group would not tolerate attempts by foreign leaders to sow religious division in the country.
“The statement by President Trump is false and provocative. It is part of a long pattern of Western propaganda designed to pit Muslims and Christians against one another. Nigeria’s challenges are driven by corruption, greed, and poor governance — not by religion,” Danladi said.
He accused the U.S. government of double standards, noting that America had no moral ground to lecture other nations about human rights when it continues to fuel wars and instability across the Middle East.
“We reject this form of neo-colonial arrogance. Nigeria does not need military intervention. What we need is peace, justice, and equity,” he added.
During the protest, some demonstrators were seen dragging the American flag on the ground, while others set effigies of the U.S. president ablaze.
Placards carried by the protesters bore inscriptions such as “We condemn Trump threats,” “Stop dividing Nigeria,” and “Trump, mind your business.”
According to sources who spoke to Legit, Security operatives were deployed across key areas to monitor the march, which later converged near the Emir’s Palace before dispersing peacefully
Danladi urged citizens to remain calm and avoid being manipulated by political or foreign interests seeking to destabilize the nation.
“Both Islam and Christianity teach love, justice, and compassion. Those who exploit religion for politics are the real enemies of peace,” Danladi said.
Let us stand together as Nigerians. Let us reject foreign interference. Our destiny is in our own hands,” he added.
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