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The short answer
Childbirth costs in Nigeria come in stages: antenatal registration and tests, scans, the delivery itself (a caesarean section costs far more than a vaginal birth), drugs, the baby's first care and the items you buy before birth. Health insurance can cover part: Reliance Health's group plans, for example, set maternity limits of ₦80,000 to ₦150,000 per plan. Get the hospital's written price list early, save the gap over the months of pregnancy, and keep the money somewhere you can reach on the day.
Where the money goes
Prices vary hugely between a public general hospital, a mission hospital, a private clinic and a large private hospital, and between cities. So instead of a national figure, list the stages and get your chosen hospital's prices for each. Most hospitals will give an antenatal package price and separate delivery prices if you ask.
- Antenatal registration. Often a package covering clinic visits until delivery.
- Tests and scans. Blood tests, urine tests and ultrasound scans, some repeated.
- Drugs and supplements. Prescribed through the pregnancy.
- Delivery. Vaginal delivery and caesarean section are priced separately. Ask for both, because a planned vaginal birth can become a caesarean.
- Admission days. Ward or private room, priced per day after the first few.
- Newborn care. Routine checks, and special care if the baby needs incubator care or phototherapy.
- Baby items. Clothes, nappies, a cot, a car seat if you drive.
- Postnatal visits and immunisations. Some immunisations are free at public facilities; ask your clinic.
What health insurance can cover
If you or your employer pays for health insurance, check the maternity section before you plan. As an example of how private plans set limits, Reliance Health's page (last updated October 2026) lists four group plans, each needing at least three principals, with maternity limits covering antenatal care, vaginal delivery and caesarean section:
| Reliance Health plan | Maternity limit | Newborn special care |
|---|---|---|
| Red Beryl | ₦80,000 | Up to 48 hours |
| Alexandrite | ₦100,000 | 5 days |
| Diamond | ₦120,000 | 10 days |
| Red Diamond | ₦150,000 | 21 days |
The page says babies not yet enrolled get a separate limited package of ₦30,000 to ₦60,000, depending on the plan, only while the mother's policy is active and only up to six weeks of age. Enrol the baby promptly.
Under the National Health Insurance Authority's formal sector programme, NHIA's FAQ says cover extends to the contributor, a spouse and four biological children under 18. State schemes set their own rules: Edo State's EDOHIC, for instance, applies a 30-day waiting period before cover starts. Check waiting periods well before your due date. In Lagos, see our guide to Ilera Eko and what you still pay.
A labelled worked example
Example only. The prices below are invented to show the method, not quotes from any hospital.
| Line | Example cost |
|---|---|
| Antenatal package | ₦150,000 |
| Extra scans and tests | ₦60,000 |
| Drugs and supplements | ₦40,000 |
| Delivery (caesarean section, to be safe) | ₦700,000 |
| Extra admission days | ₦60,000 |
| Baby items | ₦150,000 |
| Postnatal care | ₦40,000 |
| Total | ₦1,200,000 |
| Less HMO maternity limit (example) | −₦100,000 |
| Amount to save | ₦1,100,000 |
Planning on the caesarean price is deliberate: if the birth is vaginal, the difference becomes the baby's first savings. If the parents start saving at week 12, about six and a half months remain before a typical due date, so plan on seven monthly deposits: ₦1,100,000 ÷ 7 is about ₦157,143 a month. Starting before pregnancy, even three months earlier, takes the monthly figure to ₦110,000 (₦1,100,000 ÷ 10).
Which pot to use
Childbirth does not keep to a schedule. Babies arrive early, and hospitals often ask for a deposit on admission. That rules out locked savings for the delivery money: you need it the day labour starts, possibly at night or on a weekend.
- Delivery and emergency money
- Flexible savings you can move instantly, kept apart from household spending
- Baby items
- Spend gradually from the second trimester; no need to lock
- Longer-term goal (the child's future)
- Can go into fixed savings once the baby is born
When family is helping
Grandparents, siblings and relatives abroad often want to contribute, and that help can close the gap. It works best when it is planned rather than requested in the delivery room. Tell contributors the total and the date you need the money, collect contributions into the same savings pot as they come in, and keep a simple list of who sent what so thank-yous and any later disagreements are easy to handle. If a relative is paying the hospital directly, get the hospital's account details in writing from the hospital itself, not from a phone message, and ask for a receipt in the patient's name.
What to check first
- The hospital's written prices for both vaginal delivery and caesarean section.
- Whether your HMO or state scheme covers that hospital, and the maternity limit.
- Waiting periods on any new insurance.
- The deposit the hospital asks for on admission, and whether it accepts transfers at night.
- Who in the family can authorise payments if you are in labour.
Where Pryme fits
A Flexible Savings Box holds the delivery money in Naira, apart from your main balance, and can be moved at any hour. The Personal Assistant can prepare the monthly transfer and remind you of clinic dates, with nothing moving until you approve. For emergencies beyond the plan, see how big your emergency fund should be.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to give birth in Nigeria?
It depends on the hospital, the city and whether you need a caesarean section. Ask your hospital for written prices for antenatal care, vaginal delivery and caesarean section.
Does HMO cover childbirth in Nigeria?
Many plans do, up to a limit. Reliance Health's group plans, for example, set maternity limits of ₦80,000 to ₦150,000 per plan.
When should I start saving for childbirth?
As early as possible. Starting before pregnancy spreads the cost over more months and lowers the monthly amount.
Should I keep childbirth money in fixed savings?
Not the delivery money. Labour can start early and hospitals often ask for a deposit on admission, so keep it in flexible savings you can move immediately.
Sources
- Reliance Health: health plans and prices (updated 16 Oct 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- NHIA: Frequently asked questions · accessed Oct 2026
- EDOHIC: Insurance policy · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.