Lagos Sets Deadline For Residents To Get Health Insurance

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has given residents until December 31, 2026, to obtain health insurance cover ahead of the commencement of enforcement of mandatory health insurance in the state on January 1, 2027.

According to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the governor, Gboyega Akosile, 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 held 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 people in the informal sector.

Speaking at the event themed “Lagos Covered, A Shared Commitment, A Healthier Lagos,” Sanwo-Olu said the policy was aimed at ensuring that every resident could access quality healthcare without suffering financial hardship.

He said the executive order placed responsibilities on individuals, employers and the government, stressing that every resident, employer and worker in Lagos was required to have health insurance.

The governor urged employers to treat workers’ healthcare as a necessary cost of doing business, similar to pension contributions and other employment-related obligations.

He also stressed that healthcare providers must not deny patients emergency medical attention because of financial constraints, insisting that patients must first be stabilised before payment or insurance coverage issues were addressed.

Sanwo-Olu disclosed that 21 health maintenance organisations had endorsed participation in the new private health plans, describing the initiative as a partnership between the government and private operators to expand insurance coverage and strengthen healthcare delivery.

He also appealed to medical professionals considering emigration to reconsider, arguing that improved healthcare financing could make the sector more sustainable for practitioners.

Speaking at the event, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said advancements in medical technology, including artificial intelligence, robotics and modern diagnostic equipment, had significantly increased the cost of healthcare delivery.

He emphasised the need for an inclusive health insurance system to protect residents from rising medical expenses and improve access to quality healthcare.

Abayomi described the initiative as a major shift in healthcare financing in the state, noting that the existing dependence on out-of-pocket payments placed excessive financial pressure on households and healthcare facilities.

Earlier, 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 N1bn to N3bn 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, strengthen public awareness and ensure that the policy translated into accessible healthcare services.

He added that LASHMA had intensified community engagement through radio campaigns, billboards, digital advocacy and partnerships with traditional rulers, market associations, transport unions and other grassroots organisations.