The Federal Government has approved N40.76bn for the third-quarter 2026 disbursement under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, representing an increase of N7.88bn from the previous quarter’s allocation.

The government also announced plans to extend health insurance coverage to inmates as part of efforts to improve access to healthcare for vulnerable Nigerians.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed the decisions in a statement issued on Friday, October 16, 2026.

According to the minister, the latest allocation represents an increase of approximately N7.88bn over the N32.88bn approved for the second quarter of 2026.

Pate said the decisions reflected the Federal Government’s commitment to providing quality, affordable and accessible healthcare, particularly for poor, vulnerable and underserved populations.

He said the initiatives aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.

The Basic Health Care Provision Fund is designed to support the delivery of essential healthcare services across the country, particularly for Nigerians who face financial and other barriers to accessing medical care.

The extension of health insurance coverage to inmates is also expected to strengthen efforts to improve healthcare access among vulnerable groups within the country’s correctional system.

However, details of the implementation of the third-quarter allocation and the arrangements for extending insurance coverage to inmates were not provided in the statement.