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February 25, 2026 – Nigeria –
In a bid to widen affordable healthcare access in the nation’s capital, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has extended free health insurance coverage to 150 journalists based in Abuja. The programme was announced by Adedolapo Fasawe, the Mandate Secretary of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES), during a meeting with a delegation from the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT chapter led by its chairperson, Grace Ike.
Fasawe described the media as a strategic partner in public health advocacy and noted that equipping journalists with health insurance would help deepen public awareness of health promotion and preventive care. Under the scheme, beneficiaries will be eligible for medical services at accredited healthcare facilities for one year, following payment of an annual subscription fee of N22,500. She underscored the importance of prevention over cure and expressed optimism that journalists would help disseminate information about the benefits of enrolling in health insurance.
The initiative also received a personal boost from Babagana Adam, permanent secretary of HSES, who pledged to sponsor an extra 50 journalists in memory of his late brother, Mohammed Alkali, a former head of press and public relations at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Adam emphasised the need for a robust database to engage additional partners and philanthropists, with a view to potentially expanding the scheme to cover up to 300 media professionals. He urged the NUJ FCT leadership to prioritise the most vulnerable journalists who lack the means to afford healthcare services.
Ike, representing the NUJ FCT, praised the health insurance programme for its inclusivity and impact, highlighting how such efforts have positively affected diverse groups, including vulnerable families and civil servants. She reaffirmed the union’s commitment to amplifying public understanding of health insurance benefits and advocating for improved service delivery across the sector.
The move reflects FCTA’s broader strategy to enhance healthcare coverage and reinforce partnerships with key stakeholders in promoting health literacy and preventive health behaviours across the Federal Capital Territory.
Reference –
https://www.thecable.ng/fct-health-mandate-secretary-offers-free-insurance-to-150-abuja-journalists/
