LAGOS, Nigeria – The Lagos State Government has given residents until 31 December 2026 to obtain health insurance, warning that enforcement of its mandatory coverage policy will begin on 1 January 2027.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced the deadline on Tuesday while launching enforcement of Executive Order EO/BOS/01 of 2024 in Victoria Island, Lagos.
According to a statement from the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, the state has also introduced the Lagos Private Health Plans to extend insurance coverage to salaried workers and corporate organisations.
The new plans will complement the existing Ilera Eko scheme, which targets vulnerable residents and people working in the informal sector. “Governor Sanwo-Olu gave every resident until 31 December 2026 to obtain insurance cover, with enforcement commencing on 1 January 2027,” the statement said.
Sanwo-Olu said the policy aims to improve access to quality healthcare while protecting households from financial hardship associated with medical expenses. He stressed that individuals, employers and the government all have responsibilities under the executive order, adding that employers should treat workers’ healthcare as an essential business expense, alongside pension contributions and other employment obligations.
The governor also reiterated that healthcare providers must not withhold emergency treatment because a patient cannot pay. He said patients must first be stabilised before payment or insurance arrangements are addressed.
The state government disclosed that 21 health maintenance organisations had endorsed participation in the new private health plans, describing the initiative as a public-private partnership designed to expand coverage and strengthen healthcare delivery.
Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said advances in medical technology, including artificial intelligence, robotics and modern diagnostic equipment, had contributed to rising healthcare costs.
He argued that broader insurance coverage was necessary to reduce dependence on out-of-pocket payments, which can place considerable financial pressure on households and healthcare facilities.
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