The Lagos State Government has given employers, workers and residents until December 31, 2026, to obtain health insurance before mandatory participation begins on January 1, 2027.
The deadline was announced in a press release signed by Taiwo Ismail, Head of the Public Affairs Unit, Lagos State Ministry of Health, following the launch of the Lagos Private Health Plan (LPHP) Partnership at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, on October 27.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said the initiative would complement the existing Ilera Eko scheme by expanding insurance options for salaried workers, families and corporate organisations. Twenty-one Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) endorsed the partnership.
He said the state had established an implementation steering committee and enforcement task force to coordinate enrolment and ensure compliance, stressing that the goal was participation rather than confrontation.
Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, said the initiative would reduce reliance on out-of-pocket healthcare payments, which can cause household financial hardship. He said the state aimed to increase insured residents from about two million to at least 10 million.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, said the policy framework requires public and private employers to provide health insurance for their workers, while the partnership allows individuals and organisations to choose from accredited plans.
The government said increased contributions would improve payments to healthcare providers and strengthen the Lagos State Health Equity Fund, adding “Funding for the fund has risen from ₦1 billion to ₦3 billion, with a target of enrolling 500,000 vulnerable residents”.
Healthcare providers welcomed the initiative but called for transparent implementation, timely claims reimbursement and fair accreditation to ensure increased enrolment delivers accessible, quality healthcare.
