Lagos Gives Residents December 31 Deadline to Obtain Health Insurance
The Lagos State Government has given residents until December 31, 2026, to obtain health insurance, ahead of the commencement of enforcement of its mandatory health insurance policy on January 1, 2027.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced the deadline on Tuesday while flagging off the enforcement of mandatory health insurance under Executive Order EO/BOS/01 of 2024.
According to a statement issued by the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Sanwo-Olu also unveiled the Lagos Private Health Plans, designed to extend health insurance coverage to salaried workers and corporate organisations.
The new plans are expected to complement the existing Ilera Eko scheme, which caters to vulnerable residents and people in the informal sector.
“Governor Sanwo-Olu gave every resident until 31 December 2026 to obtain insurance cover, with enforcement commencing on 1 January 2027,” the statement read.
Speaking at an event attended by government officials, health practitioners and stakeholders from the public and private sectors in Victoria Island, the governor said the executive order was aimed at ensuring that every Lagos resident had health insurance and could access quality healthcare without suffering financial hardship.
He said the objective went beyond enforcement, stressing that the policy was intended to guarantee access to healthcare for all residents without exposing them to financial difficulties.
The statement added that every resident, employer and worker in Lagos was required to have social health insurance, noting that the executive order placed responsibilities on individuals, employers and the government.
Sanwo-Olu explained that while Ilera Eko catered 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.
He also stressed that employers should regard workers’ healthcare as a necessary cost of doing business, just like pensions and other employment-related obligations.
On emergency medical care, the governor said no healthcare provider should turn away residents requiring emergency attention because of financial constraints. He emphasised that patients must first be stabilised before issues relating to payment or insurance coverage were addressed.
Sanwo-Olu disclosed that 21 health maintenance organisations had endorsed participation in the new plans, describing the arrangement as a partnership between the state 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 strengthen the sector and make it more sustainable for practitioners.
Speaking at the event, the Lagos State 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.
Abayomi emphasised the importance of a strong and inclusive health insurance system to protect residents from rising medical expenses while ensuring access to quality healthcare services.
He described the launch as a major shift in healthcare financing, arguing 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, Dr Adebayo Adedewe, said the state government had increased its Health Equity Fund from ₦1 billion to ₦3 billion to provide health 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 new policy translated into accessible healthcare for residents.
He added that the agency had intensified community engagement through radio campaigns, billboards, digital advocacy and partnerships with traditional rulers, market associations, transport unions and other grassroots organisations.