LAGOS INTENSIFIES MANDATORY HEALTH INSURANCE IMPLEMENTATION
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By: Sefiu Ajape
The Lagos State Government has intensified efforts to entrench mandatory health insurance with the formal investiture of the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. (Mrs) Kemi Ogunyemi, as Enforcement Leads of the Lagos State Health Scheme Executive Order and ILERA EKO Champions.
The ceremony, held on January 19, 2026, at the Ministry of Health Conference Room, highlighted the state’s determination to accelerate enrollment and compliance with the ILERA EKO Social Health Insurance Scheme.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Abayomi described the recognition as both “symbolic and strategic,” noting Lagos’ deliberate shift of residents away from out-of-pocket healthcare spending to insurance-based financing. “We have been battling with how to increase enrollment in ILERA EKO and change the culture of cash payment for healthcare. Insurance is a social safety net, and this mindset shift is non-negotiable,” he said.
The Commissioner recalled that Lagos became the first state to domesticate the 2022 National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act through an Executive Order in July 2024, making health insurance mandatory. He stressed that the decision reflected the Governor’s strong commitment to healthcare financing reform. “When Mr. Governor personally edits and re-edits a document, it shows how critical that issue is to the future of Lagosians,” he added.
Abayomi also warned against stigmatisation of insured patients, describing negative attitudes towards ILERA EKO enrollees as a major barrier to uptake. “If someone presents an ILERA EKO card and is treated as inferior, uptake will suffer. That must stop,” he said, pledging to prioritise insurance compliance during facility inspections. “The key question I will keep asking is: ‘Where is the ILERA EKO?’”
In her remarks, Dr. Ogunyemi said the enforcement role “goes beyond a title,” stressing that the health insurance scheme is now law. “This is about Universal Health Coverage and equitable access to quality healthcare for everyone in Lagos State,” she said, noting that ILERA EKO aligns with the state’s THEMES Plus Agenda.
Ogunyemi commended the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) for “aggressive sensitisation efforts across the state,” saying constant visibility was necessary to address persistent gaps in public knowledge. “People are still asking, ‘What is ILERA EKO?’ ‘Where do I enrol?’ Those questions tell us the work must continue,” she said. She urged all directors and health officials to mainstream ILERA EKO promotion in every programme, emphasising that responsibility does not rest with LASHMA alone. “When people come with medical bills, the first question should be: are you insured?” she said.
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Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, said the investiture marked “a critical step in positioning leadership to drive enforcement of the Executive Order across the public service.” “What we are undertaking is pioneering in Nigeria. All eyes are on Lagos as we demonstrate how mandatory health insurance can work,” she said. Zamba noted that enforcement nominees across Ministries, Departments and Agencies have been trained, ensuring compliance beyond the health sector. “This initiative cuts across the entire public service, particularly public-facing MDAs, in line with the provisions of the Executive Order,” she added.
She explained that formally designating the Commissioner and Special Adviser as Enforcement Leaders was meant “to strengthen compliance, alongside the Head of Service, while also recognising their consistent advocacy for universal health coverage. This decoration is to amplify their roles and appreciate the leadership they have shown.”
Delivering closing remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Dayo Lajide, said the ceremony signalled “the beginning of more intensive work rather than a mere formality.” “Health is a collective responsibility, and we will continue to engage, communicate and work together to ensure the success of ILERA EKO across the entire sector,” she said.
The event ended with the formal decoration of Prof. Abayomi and Dr. Ogunyemi as Enforcement Leads and ILERA EKO Champions, reinforcing Lagos State’s resolve to achieve broad insurance coverage and strengthen its healthcare system through mandatory participation.
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