The Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP) has officially flagged off the enrolment of members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) into the state health insurance scheme, in line with the government’s drive to expand access to affordable and quality healthcare.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony at Rumuokoro Park in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of RIVCHPP said the exercise fulfilled a promise made two months after the agency signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the NURTW.
The RIVCHPP boss said the initiative aligns with the vision of Governor Siminalayi Fubara to ensure that everyone living and working in Rivers State has access to affordable, quality healthcare.
Describing road transport workers as the backbone of the state’s economy, the Executive Secretary noted that drivers and transport operators face daily occupational risks while providing essential services, making access to healthcare a necessity.
According to the agency, the health insurance scheme will enable enrolled members and their dependents to receive treatment at accredited healthcare facilities without the burden of huge out-of-pocket medical expenses.
The RIVCHPP CEO explained that the enrolment exercise at Rumuokoro Park marks the beginning of a statewide rollout, urging transport workers to take advantage of the opportunity by registering, selecting healthcare providers close to them and participating in the ongoing screening exercise.
The agency also commended the leadership of the NURTW for partnering with RIVCHPP to improve the welfare of its members and urged union leaders to mobilise transport workers for mass enrolment.
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The Executive Secretary further charged RIVCHPP officials to ensure that the enrolment process remains transparent, seamless and people-centred.
The agency announced that the enrolment exercise will be extended to all NURTW parks across the 23 local government areas of Rivers State as part of efforts to achieve wider health insurance coverage.
Similarly, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP) has intensified efforts to have public workers come on board its stable in its avowed interest of expanding universal health coverage in the state.
During an advocacy visit to Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) State office on Monday, 13 July 2026, Dr. Vetty Agala with a team from the State social health insurance agency, announced that the agency has enrolled over 160,000 Rivers residents, who are presently accessing care in accredited health facilities across the 23 local government areas of the state.
Dr. Agala clarified that though the enrolled number of persons have already exceeded the target number given to the state by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), but seeing that the number is a far cry in comparison to the population of the state, and to fulfill the Governor’s interest to see that all residents of the state always remain healthy, the agency will continue to push for more and more enrolment.
The Chief Executive Officer of RIVCHPP explained that the advocacy visit is aimed at liaising with the labour union to map out strategies for enrolling the formal sector, civil servants, and other workers in the health insurance scheme.
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Dr. Agala also explained that the agency’s package for the formal sector covers the worker, a spouse, and 4 children (dependants) not more than 21 years of age.
The health insurance agency’s boss then called upon the leadership and management of the union to share the information with other leaders and relevant stakeholders to see to it that the workforce is enrolled into RIVCHPP’s programmes.
In his response, the state chairman of NLC, Comrade Alex Ikechi Agwanwor, commended the goodwill of Governor Siminialayi Fubara, GSSRS, to the workforce in the state, especially the operationalisation of RIVCHPP, and for the numerous welfare packages for workers.
Comrade Agwanwor promised that the union would not only share the information but would make concerted efforts to see that workers in the state also get enrolled into RIVCHPP’s programmes to enjoy what others are enjoying in terms of affordable healthcare services.
The advocacy visit included presenting RIVCHPP’s promotional materials to the union for ongoing advocacy.
