Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has given residents until December 31, 2026, to obtain health insurance, warning that enforcement of the state’s mandatory health insurance policy will begin on January 1, 2027.
Sanwo-Olu announced this on Tuesday while flagging off the enforcement of mandatory health insurance under Executive Order EO/BOS/01 of 2024 at an event in Victoria Island, Lagos.
The governor also unveiled the Lagos Private Health Plans (LPHP), designed to extend health insurance coverage to salaried workers and corporate organisations, complementing the existing Ilera Eko scheme, which caters to vulnerable residents and the informal sector.
He said the policy was aimed at ensuring that every Lagos resident could access quality healthcare without suffering financial hardship.
Speaking at the event, themed “Lagos Covered, a Shared Commitment, a Healthier Lagos,” Sanwo-Olu said the executive order placed responsibilities on individuals, employers and government to ensure universal health insurance coverage across the state.
According to him, the initiative is designed to make healthcare more accessible while reducing the financial burden on households and strengthening the state’s healthcare delivery system.
He explained that while Ilera Eko was established to cater to vulnerable residents and those in the informal sector, the newly introduced private health plans would address the healthcare needs of salaried workers and employers.
The governor stressed that employers must regard healthcare coverage for their workers as a necessary cost of doing business, just as they make provisions for pensions and other employment-related obligations.
He also called on residents and employers to take advantage of the remaining period to comply with the policy before enforcement begins in January.
On emergency medical care, Sanwo-Olu warned healthcare providers against turning away patients requiring urgent medical attention because of financial constraints.
He insisted that patients must first be stabilised before questions relating to payment or insurance coverage are addressed.
The governor disclosed that 21 health maintenance organisations had endorsed participation in the new plans, describing the arrangement as a partnership between the government and private operators to expand insurance coverage and improve healthcare delivery.
He also appealed to medical professionals considering emigration to reconsider their decisions, expressing optimism that improved healthcare financing would strengthen the sector and create a more sustainable environment for practitioners.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said advances in medical technology, including artificial intelligence, robotic science and modern diagnostic equipment, had significantly increased the cost of healthcare delivery.
He said a strong and inclusive health insurance system was therefore necessary to protect residents from rising medical expenses while ensuring access to quality services.
Abayomi described the initiative as a major shift in the financing of healthcare in Lagos, noting that the prevailing dependence on out-of-pocket payments placed excessive financial pressure on households and healthcare facilities.
He said expanding insurance coverage would help distribute healthcare costs more sustainably and improve access to essential medical services.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), Dr Adebayo Adedewe, disclosed that the state government had increased its Health Equity Fund from N1 billion to N3 billion to provide insurance coverage for more than 500,000 vulnerable residents who could not afford the required premiums.
Adedewe said the agency would continue to expand enrolment, intensify public awareness and ensure that the new policy translated into accessible healthcare for residents.
He added that LASHMA had strengthened community engagement through radio campaigns, billboards, digital advocacy and partnerships with traditional rulers, market associations, transport unions and other grassroots organisations.
The enforcement initiative is expected to expand health insurance coverage across different segments of the state’s population, with the government seeking greater participation by individuals, employers and private healthcare operators.
