LAGOS GOVT INSISTS ILERA EKO IS PUBLIC GOOD, NOT REVENUE DRIVE
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
Lagos – The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed that its Mandatory Social Health Insurance Scheme, Ilera Eko, is a public-good initiative designed to guarantee affordable and accessible healthcare for residents, not a revenue-generating venture.
The clarification was made during a two-day capacity-building workshop for journalists on the Lagos Health Scheme (LSHS) and Ilera Eko. The workshop was organised by the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) in collaboration with the International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH) and the EngenderHealth Consortium Partnership.
Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Emmanuella Zamba, stressed that the scheme prioritises maternal and child health and aims to improve the overall quality of life of Lagos residents.
“Ilera Eko is what the government has put in place to ensure quality health and longevity of life for Lagos residents,” she said. “When you set aside this relatively affordable amount of money, you are guaranteed health for your family. You can plan your life better without being crippled by sudden medical bills.”
Zamba noted that the scheme covers essential services such as antenatal care and caesarean sections, many of which are heavily subsidised. She explained that pregnant women must undergo at least five months of antenatal care under the programme to enable early detection of high-risk cases and improve outcomes for mothers and babies.
Addressing concerns over recent registration directives, she clarified that circulars from the Office of the Head of Service were meant to set an example among public servants.
“If the government says this is mandatory, we must lead by example so that residents follow suit,” she said, urging residents to enrol and avoid preventable deaths linked to hypertension, maternal complications, and emergency situations.
Also speaking, Head of Business Development at LASHMA, Mr. Olatunji Rotimi, distinguished Ilera Eko from private Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs), noting that the state scheme prioritises service delivery over profit.
“What we do is different from HMOs. Their business is about return on investment. For Ilera Eko, it’s about service. Any revenue accrued is reinvested into the health system to expand service delivery,” he said.
Rotimi outlined various enrolment plans under the scheme, including the Standard Jara Plan, Standard Jara Plus, Seniors Plan, Diaspora Plan, Higher Institution Plan, and Bespoke Plan. A new Standard Plan priced at N10,000 is also set to be launched. He added that flexible payment options—monthly, quarterly, or annually—are available, while informal sector participants can access support through the Ilera N’ Tiwa Cooperative Multipurpose Society.
Technical Assistant to the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Nifesimi Akinnagbe, highlighted ongoing awareness efforts, including 11 radio docu-dramas airing statewide and weekly programmes on BondFM, Lagos Traffic Radio, and WashFM. The agency also partners with local government chairmen, community development committees, and advocacy groups to deepen grassroots engagement.
“Information meant to do good can be twisted and spread on social media. That is why engaging community gatekeepers is critical,” Akinnagbe said.
Providing enrolment statistics, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Mr. Kehinde Daudu disclosed that as of the fourth quarter of 2025, over 1.3 million residents had enrolled in Ilera Eko, reflecting a 27 per cent annual growth rate.
According to him, females account for 53 per cent of enrollees and males 47 per cent. Age distribution shows four per cent under five years, 25 per cent between ages 5–18, 61 per cent between 18–60, and 10 per cent above 60.
In his remarks, Mr. Boniface Kassam of ISMPH urged journalists to adopt advocacy-driven and human-interest reporting to strengthen public understanding of the scheme and its benefits.
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