By: Mardiyyah Abubakar
The Lagos State Government has directed employers, workers and residents to obtain appropriate health insurance coverage by December 31, 2026, ahead of full enforcement of the policy on January 1, 2027.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced the deadline during the launch of the Lagos Private Health Plan (LPHP) Partnership at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island.
He said the initiative would expand access to healthcare and reduce the financial burden on residents who pay out of pocket for medical treatment.
Sanwo-Olu explained that the policy complements the existing Ilera Eko health insurance scheme by providing additional coverage options for salaried workers and corporate organisations.
He said the state had established an implementation steering committee and an enforcement task force to ensure compliance, adding that the government prioritised compliance over confrontation.
The Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, said mandatory participation would help spread healthcare costs across a larger population and protect families from financial hardship.
He disclosed that Lagos was targeting an increase in health insurance enrolment from about two million residents to at least 10 million.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, said the executive order establishing the policy requires public and private employers to provide health insurance coverage for their workers.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Lagos State Health Management Agency Governing Board, Dr Adebayo Adedewe, said the Lagos State Health Equity Fund had received an increased allocation of ₦3 billion from ₦1 billion to improve healthcare access for vulnerable residents.
The government said enrolment would be supported by a digital platform to help employers register their workers and enable residents to select suitable plans from 21 participating Health Maintenance Organisations.
The grace period ends on December 31, 2026, with enforcement scheduled to begin on January 1, 2027.
