In Edo State, Nigeria, tensions have arisen regarding the relocation of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) office from Benin City to Port Harcourt. A local socio-cultural organization, Edo First, has accused Obaro Ologbo, the South South Zonal Director of the NHIA, of having undue influence on this decision. According to the group, the move is causing unrest among stakeholders in the health sector and raises concerns about public access to health insurance services in the Edo region.

Obaro Ologbo has publicly rejected these accusations, labeling them as a "big, fat lie." He emphasized that the decision to relocate the office was made by the NHIA's Abuja headquarters and not by any local officials. Ologbo's defense is supported by an internal memo from the NHIA, signed by Human Resources Director Halima Zakari, which outlines the establishment of new zonal offices and departments, suggesting that structural changes within the organization were already in motion prior to the relocation.

The memo detailed the creation of two new departments within the NHIA and announced the operational activities of these departments, indicating an organizational shift that might facilitate better management of health insurance services across Nigeria. As the controversy unfolds, it highlights the ongoing challenges and complexities facing health policy implementation in the country, particularly in maintaining regional access to essential services amidst administrative changes.