Former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has recounted how his administration introduced a ₦10,000 incentive for pregnant women who attended antenatal care as part of efforts to improve maternal healthcare in the state.
Amaechi disclosed this while speaking at the Her Health, Her Power Conference Africa 2026 in Abuja, where he reflected on policies implemented during his tenure as governor.
According to the former governor, the initiative was introduced after his administration identified maternal and child health as areas requiring urgent attention. He said the government subsequently established health centres in communities and recruited medical workers to provide healthcare services.
Amaechi explained that the financial incentive was designed to encourage pregnant women to regularly visit health facilities for antenatal services.
“Each village has a medical centre, we employed two doctors and nurses while we paid N10,000 per woman that went for anti-natal,” he said.
He further claimed that the programme led to a noticeable increase in attendance at the health centres, with many expectant mothers visiting the facilities because of the financial support.
“Our health centres were full every Friday because they were sure of going home with N10,000,” Amaechi added.
The former governor acknowledged that the financial reward was an important motivation for some beneficiaries, but argued that it also created an opportunity to connect more women with medical services.
The revelation has renewed discussion about strategies governments can adopt to encourage pregnant women to access antenatal care, particularly in communities where financial difficulties and limited healthcare infrastructure can discourage regular hospital visits.
The issue remains relevant as Nigeria continues to face challenges surrounding maternal and child healthcare, including access to qualified medical personnel and affordable health services.
Amaechi governed Rivers State from 2007 to 2015 before serving as Minister of Transportation under the Federal Government. He is currently involved in opposition politics as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential running mate ahead of the 2027 general elections.
His latest comments have brought renewed attention to the healthcare policies implemented during his tenure and the broader debate over effective ways to improve maternal healthcare access in Nigeria.
