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The Lagos State Government has issued a strict deadline requiring all residents to secure health insurance by December 31, 2026, ahead of mandatory policy enforcement starting January 1, 2027.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced the directive while launching Executive Order EO/BOS/01 of 2024 alongside the new Lagos Private Health Plans, which target salaried employees and corporate organisations to complement the existing Ilera Eko scheme.
Outlining the core vision of the initiative, Sanwo-Olu stated that the order aims “to ensure that every Lagos resident is covered by health insurance and can access quality healthcare services without suffering financial hardship.”
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The mandatory policy requires individuals, employers, and the state government to share responsibility for universal coverage.
Sanwo-Olu urged business owners to treat healthcare provisions as an essential cost of doing business, similar to pensions, while noting that 21 health maintenance organisations have signed on to support the public-private framework.
Addressing critical emergency responses, the governor emphasised that medical personnel must never reject emergency patients over payment issues, maintaining that facilities must stabilise patients before verifying insurance status.
To support vulnerable populations unable to afford premiums, Lagos State raised its Health Equity Fund from N1bn to N3bn, expanding coverage to over 500,000 low-income residents.
Health Commissioner Prof. Akin Abayomi highlighted that rising medical costs and modern technology make out-of-pocket expenses unsustainable, necessitating a structured insurance model.
Concurrently, the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) has launched widespread grassroots campaigns across transport unions, market associations, and traditional leadership networks to drive statewide enrolment before the 2027 enforcement deadline.
