Korede Abdullah 
Lagos Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi
LAGOS, Nigeria – The Lagos State Government unveils an ambitious healthcare expansion plan featuring specialist hospitals, a university of medicine and a medical innovation zone aimed at transforming Lagos into Africa’s leading healthcare hub.
Lagos Commissioner for Health Akin Abayomi announces the projects during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing on Wednesday.
“We are building facilities for the future of Lagos,” Abayomi says, warning that many existing hospitals are no longer adequate for the state’s rapidly growing population.
The healthcare expansion plan includes a 10-floor Massey Children’s Hospital, a 280-bed General Hospital in Iba-Ojo and a 1,500-bed Mental Health Institute in Ketu-Ejirin.
According to the commissioner, the facilities are being designed as climate-smart “green hospitals” powered partly by renewable energy systems.
Abayomi says the new hospitals could reduce annual electricity costs by more than half compared with conventional medical facilities.
The state government also plans to establish a University of Medicine and Health Sciences to address critical shortages of healthcare professionals.
He reveals that Lagos requires about 40,000 doctors but currently has only around 7,000.
The reforms further include the creation of the Lagos Medical Industries and Innovation Zone inside the Lekki Free Trade Zone to support local production of vaccines, medicines and healthcare equipment.
Authorities also plan to deploy the Smart Health Information Platform, a digital system connecting hospitals, laboratories, pharmacies and ambulances through a unified patient identification system.
Abayomi says the broader goal is to reduce outbound medical tourism while positioning Lagos as a centre for advanced healthcare, medical education and medical innovation in Africa.
Special Adviser on Health Kemi Ogunyemi urges residents to patronise only accredited healthcare facilities across the state.
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Oluwatobi Adu 
