Oluwafunbi Bello 
Lagos Health Commissioner, Prof. Akin Abayomi
LAGOS, Nigeria – The Lagos healthcare reforms programme is gaining momentum as the Lagos State Government strengthens collaboration with civil society organisations (CSOs) to expand access to affordable healthcare and accelerate reforms across the state’s health sector.
Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, announced the renewed partnership on Tuesday after engaging stakeholders at the Southern Civil Society Organisations Summit 2026 in Lagos.
Abayomi says civil society organisations play a vital role in shaping health policies, responding to disease outbreaks and ensuring healthcare interventions reach underserved communities.
“No government can transform public health in isolation. Civil society organisations remain our vital partners because they provide valuable community insights that help us deliver quality and affordable healthcare to Lagos residents,” he says.
According to the commissioner, the state has institutionalised public participation through a dedicated Civil Society Desk within the Ministry of Health.
He says the partnership has supported major Lagos healthcare reforms, including expanded health insurance coverage, digital transformation of healthcare services, strategies to address the migration of healthcare professionals and efforts to integrate informal healthcare providers into the formal health system.
Abayomi reveals that Lagos is on track to complete the digitalisation of its healthcare system before the end of the year through the Lagos Smart Health Information Platform, which will introduce electronic medical records and improve referrals to specialist facilities.
He also announces plans to upgrade the Lagos State College of Medicine into a specialised University of Medicine and Health Sciences, increasing annual student admissions from about 300 to between 2,000 and 3,000.
The commissioner says the government is developing structured referral systems to integrate community pharmacists and alternative healthcare practitioners into formal healthcare delivery, particularly to improve maternal and child health outcomes.
Abayomi commends civil society organisations for their contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic and Lassa fever outbreaks, noting that their community engagement has strengthened public health interventions.
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Korede Abdullah 