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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
The Vice Chancellor of Atiba University, Oyo, Professor Sunday Okeniyi, has enjoined the newly employed staff of the institution to develop the spirit of teamwork, respect, and discipline, which are the hallmarks of every successful institution.
Okeniyi disclosed this during the orientation programme for the newly employed staff of the institution.
While welcoming the newly employed staff, he also congratulated them on their successful appointment into the fast-rising institution. “Your joining us today is not by chance, but by merit, commitment, and the will of God. Atiba University is a citadel of learning and character formation, envisioned to nurture and produce men and women of excellence, integrity, and service. By becoming part of this family, you are now co-builders of this noble vision.”
The V-C said the orientation programme was a deliberate initiative of the management to formally integrate the new staff into the University system. “It is designed to give you a clear understanding of our mission, vision, core values, rules, and operational culture. Our goal is not just for you to work here, but for you to thrive, contribute meaningfully, and leave an indelible mark on the growth and transformation of this University.”
He explained that the university places a premium on academic excellence, innovative research, moral uprightness, and community development. These values define the identity and are the standards the staff must all uphold in their respective assignments—whether as academic staff shaping young minds or as non-teaching staff providing essential support services that make our work possible.
While admitting much needed to be done, Okeniyi said the institution has recorded remarkable progress within a short time. “The future we envision—a future of global competitiveness, leadership in innovation and knowledge, and impact within and beyond Nigeria—requires the collective commitment of every member of staff. That includes you. Your dedication, creativity, and professionalism are needed to propel us forward,” he said.
News
This Is War, Kill Every Single One Of Them – Fani-Kayode Blows Hot Over Zamfara Mosque Massacre
Former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode has condemned the gruesome murder of five worshippers during an early morning prayer in Yandoto village, Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
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Speaking via his 𝕏 account, he insisted that the killers should be wiped out, adding that there should be no room for discussions or negotiations.
Fani-Kayode asserted that the killers are terrorists not bandits and described their actions as an act of war.
He wrote: “These are not bandits. Pls stop calling them bandits. They are bloodthirsty killers and terrorists and every single one of them should be wiped off the face of the earth.
“If our people cannot worship God in peace then we have nothing. No negotiation, no discussion, no ransom payments, no rehabilitation.
“This is WAR. Kill every single one of them, wipe out their blood line and decimate their communities and abodes. There is no place on earth for those that slaughter innocent civilians.”
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has accused Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of failing to address the escalating banditry crisis in the state.
Naija News reports that a deadly attack occurred on Sunday in Oke-Ode, Ifelodun Local Government Area, which left several residents and vigilante members dead.
Speaking via a statement on Monday, the Publicity Secretary of the party, Olusegun Olusola Adewara, described the massacre as “a despicable and senseless act.”
He blamed the governor for the insecurity situation in the state, noting that it is a monumental leadership failure.
Adewara said, “The gruesome videos of the casualties circulating online make it look like Kwara is now at war. Under AbdulRahman’s watch, terror is reigning, kidnappers are taking over rural villages, and nowhere is safe again.”
The opposition party faulted AbdulRazaq’s alleged silence and absence from the affected community, insisting that a responsible leader should have personally visited Oke-Ode to commiserate with victims’ families and give assurances of decisive action.
It further accused the governor of neglecting local vigilantes and security personnel “battling criminals in the bush,” while diverting funds to “footballers and entertainers outside the state.”
The PDP’s criticism comes amid rising concern in Kwara North, where repeated bandit attacks have forced residents to abandon farms, schools, and businesses.
News
Nigeria @65: Atiku Knocks Tinubu’s Government In Strongly-Worded Independence Day Message; Details Emerge
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has praised Nigerians for what he described as “uncommon patience, endurance, and resilience despite living under suffocating socio-economic and security conditions”
In his Independence Day message to Nigerians, the opposition leader alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) administration had abandoned Nigerians to their fate
Atiku lamented that Nigerians were enduring pains from “raging insecurity, rising food scarcity, mass unemployment, and a dangerous climate of hopelessness all “compounded by the insensitivity of the APC-led administration
In an Independence Day message released by his media office, obtained by Legit.ng, Atiku lamented that Nigerians are enduring excruciating pains from raging insecurity, rising food scarcity, mass unemployment, and a dangerous climate of hopelessness.
The presidential hopeful accused the Tinubu administration of being insensitive to the plight of Nigerians.
Atiku declared: “It is tragic that in a country blessed with immense human and material resources, millions of our people have been reduced to refugees and beggars in their fatherland. Every responsible government holds the welfare and security of its citizens as supreme. But what we have today is an administration that has abandoned its people. Hunger is killing Nigerians, bandits are massacring communities, yet President Tinubu and his cabinet stand by, unmoved and uncaring.”
Furthermore, Atiku called on citizens not to lose faith, reminding Nigerians that the 2027 election provides a clear opportunity to reject bad leadership and reclaim the promise of a better tomorrow.
He said: “The beauty of democracy lies in the power of the ballot. Oppressed and battered as our people may feel today, they will have the chance to sweep away this inept government at the next polls. That is the power no cabal can take away from the people.”
At 65, Atiku noted, Nigeria remains “a giant moving painfully slow on feet of clay”.
The 78-year-old blamed Nigeria’s condition on “a direct result of decades of poor leadership and wasteful governance.”
He bemoaned: “Yet, he urged Nigerians to keep hope alive, insisting that with the right leadership, the country can still rise from the ashes of failed governance to reclaim its rightful place among the comity of nations.”
PRESS RELEASE
Nigeria @65: @atiku Hails Nigerians’ Courage, Blasts APC Over Economic Strangulation
Former Vice President of Nigeria and Waziri Adamawa, Atiku Abubakar, has paid tribute to the uncommon patience, endurance, and resilience of Nigerians who, despite living under… pic.twitter.com/cPnI9KzxrJ
— Paul Ibe (@omonlakiki) September 30, 2025
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