Lagos Gives Residents December 31 Deadline to Obtain Health Insurance

According to Daily Post Nigeria, published on October 28, 2026, the Lagos State Government has given residents until December 31 to obtain health insurance, ahead of the planned enforcement of compulsory coverage beginning on January 1, 2027.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced the deadline during the launch of the enforcement of mandatory health insurance under Executive Order EO/BOS/01 of 2024. The policy aims to expand access to medical services and reduce the financial burden of healthcare on residents.

At the event in Victoria Island, the governor introduced the Lagos Private Health Plans, designed to provide insurance coverage for salaried employees and corporate organisations. These plans will complement the existing Ilera Eko scheme, which serves vulnerable residents and people working in the informal sector.

Sanwo-Olu explained that the policy was intended to achieve more than compulsory enrolment. He said its broader objective was to help residents obtain quality medical care without suffering financial hardship.

The executive order outlines responsibilities for individuals, employers and workers within the state’s social health insurance system. The governor urged employers to treat workers’ healthcare coverage as an essential obligation, comparable to pension contributions.

He also addressed emergency treatment, stressing that healthcare providers must not refuse urgent medical attention because a patient lacks money or insurance. Patients, he said, should first be stabilised before payment or insurance issues are considered.

According to the report, 21 health maintenance organisations have agreed to participate in the newly introduced private plans.

Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, highlighted the growing cost of medical treatment and the need for an inclusive insurance system to protect households from rising expenses. He also pointed to developments in medical technology and diagnostic equipment as factors contributing to healthcare costs.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Lagos State Health Management Agency, Dr Adebayo Adedewe, announced that the state’s Health Equity Fund had increased from N1 billion to N3 billion. The fund is intended to extend insurance coverage to more than 500,000 vulnerable residents who cannot afford the required premiums.

The agency is also expanding public awareness through radio campaigns, billboards, digital advocacy and partnerships with community organisations.

With enforcement scheduled to begin on January 1, 2027, residents and employers have until the end of December to prepare for the compulsory health insurance policy.