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NHIA Mandates One-Hour Patient Wait Limit For HMOs

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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

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[JUST IN] Wike’s Assassination Plot: Police Take Action On Top Governor Fubara’s Ally; Nigerians React

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The Nigeria Police Force, through the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), has finally invited Tammy Wenike Danagogo, former Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG), over the allegation that he was speaking in a leaked telephone conversation, discussing how to assassinate the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

Danagogo is a top ally of Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers. It was alleged that the governor’s ally was making the call with Tombari Joseph Gbeneol, a medical doctor and founder of Life Forte Chapel Church in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

In the leaked conversation, Danagogo and Gbeneol were said to have discussed how they could bring in an Israeli national to assassinate the minister of the FCT, and it ended with an alleged plan to urge Governor Fubara to fund the execution.

Last week, Benjamin Hundeyin, the public relations officer of the police, reportedly revealed the arrest of Gbeneol in a statement on Tuesday, January 6, where he disclosed that further information on the issue would be made available after the interrogation had been completed.

This is coming amid the heated political tension between Wike and his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Since the Christmas holiday, the two political leaders have been throwing banters at each other. The governor has been accused of ignoring the peace agreement he signed with President Bola Tinubu in 2025.

The news of the police invitation to Danagogo was shared by Lere Olayinka, a media aide to Wike. The development has started generating reactions from some Nigerians. Below are some of their reactions:

Olufemi Aluko described it as a joke:

“Once I saw Israel, I just started laughing. We’re not serious in this country. I just knew it had to be a joke.”

Seyi questioned: “Leaked conversation. Yeah. How many phone taps do the DSS actually have running?”

Dare called for a deeper investigation: “Has it got to this? This is barbaric. If found culpable, he should be made to face the law.”

Meenah condemned the development:
“Another shocking development. When close allies of a governor are linked to alleged assassination plots, it raises serious questions about leadership and accountability. Rivers State deserves leaders who unify, not ones whose associates spark fear and chaos.”

Read more reactions to the news from X here: /

 

 

 

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BREAKING: Grief, Lamentation As 3 APC Chieftains Die

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The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has lost three of its chieftains in Kogi to the cold hand of death. The APC chieftains are Alih Atabo, Onojah James Ignatius, and Jatto Onimisi Suleiman.

Kingsley Fanwo, the state’s commissioner for information and communication, announced their deaths in a statement in Lokoja, the state capital, on Monday, January 12.

According to Fanwo, the government and people of Kogi received the death of the APC chieftains with profound sorrow, describing them as distinguished sons of the state.

The statement reads in part: From breaking news to viral moments. “Hon. Onojah James Ignatius, Special Adviser to the Governor of Kogi State and former Chairman of Igalamela Local Government Area; Hon. Jatto Onimisi Suleiman, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor; and Alhaji Alih Atabo, APC Chairman of Anyigba Ward in Dekina Local Government Area.”

The Punch reported that Fanwo maintained that the deceased served the state and the APC with uncommon loyalty, dedication and commitment.

However, the state government did not disclose the causes of their deaths but conveyed Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s condolences to the family, friends, associates and the APC family in the state.

Nigerians have therefore reacted to the news of their deaths differently:

Adeyemi condemned Nigerians mocking the dead: “It is truly heartbreaking how many Nigerians have lost their humanity. When a fellow human being passes away, the only thing some people can do is mock them over petty political differences. It’s a disgrace. Death is inevitable for us all; those who are mocking the dead today should remember that they could be the victims tomorrow.”

Chiedozie Onyeke prayed for them: “God should have allowed them to enjoy Tinubu’s reforms small. May their souls rest in peace.”

Uzochukwu Agu O.G. made an unverified claim: “They were clogs in the wheel of Yahaya Bello’s Ambition. It is what it is. The next set of chieftains to replace them will unilaterally call for Yahaya Bello to run for Senate.”

Adams Azeez prayed for the deceased: “Whatever your politics, death is a reminder that power is temporary. May their souls rest in peace, and may their families find strength.”

Ajayi Ogidiolu demanded more clarity about their death: “When did they die? Died or killed? The information is not really clear.”

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BREAKING: KWAM 1 Writes Ogun Govt, Accuses Fusengbuwa Ruling House of Plot to Exclude Him From Awujale Selection

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Popular Fuji musician and Olori Omooba of Ijebu land, Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, widely known as KWAM1, has written to Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, alleging that he is being deliberately sidelined from the ongoing process to select the next Awujale of Ijebu land.

Ayinde, in a petition dated January 8, 2026, accused the Fusengbuwa ruling house next in line to produce the monarch of taking actions that allegedly violate the Chieftaincy Declaration and the Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State. He claimed the moves were designed to disenfranchise him from contesting for the revered throne.

The letter, written on his behalf by his lawyer, Dr. Wahab Shittu, SAN, was addressed to Governor Abiodun and outlined what the Fuji star described as procedural irregularities in the selection process.

According to the petition, the contest for the Awujale stool has attracted over 60 aspirants, with Ayinde formally declaring his interest. However, the Fusengbuwa family has maintained that KWAM1 is not a member of the ruling house and is therefore ineligible to participate in the exercise.

Before writing to the governor, Ayinde had approached the Ogun State High Court sitting in Ijebu Ode, seeking an interim injunction to restrain Governor Abiodun and six others from continuing with the selection process. The court, however, dismissed the application, ruling that it lacked merit. The musician later withdrew the suit without publicly stating his reasons.

In his latest letter, Ayinde disclosed that the Ijebu Ode Local Government, via a letter dated January 6, 2026, signed by its Secretary, Oke Adebanjo, had approved the commencement of the selection process by the ruling house.

He expressed surprise that while members of the Fusengbuwa family were preparing for a general meeting, the family’s Public Relations Officer, Prince Adeleye Lateef Ademuyiwa, allegedly issued a notice directing aspirants to collect nomination forms and appear before a screening committee.

The screening committee, according to Ayinde, is chaired by Prince Alhaji Mitiu Adenuga. He further alleged that the directive fixed the nomination exercise for Monday, January 12, 2026, while also stating that the process would be conducted by delegates to be selected at a meeting scheduled for January 10, 2026.

Ayinde argued that the sequence of events was confusing, contradictory, and contrary to established laws guiding traditional chieftaincy matters in Ogun State.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Ogun State Government nor the Fusengbuwa ruling house had officially responded to the allegations.

Lagos Reporters will continue to monitor developments surrounding the Awujale succession process and provide updates as the story unfolds.

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