The Lagos State Government has announced plans to fully enforce mandatory health insurance across the state, beginning with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and extending to the informal sector, as part of efforts to deepen access to quality and affordable healthcare for residents.
The enforcement drive is anchored on the state’s social health insurance scheme, ILERA EKO, which is designed to ensure that every Lagosian can receive medical care without facing financial hardship. To accelerate uptake at the community level, chairmen of Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas (LGs/LCDAs) have been charged to lead grassroots mobilisation and registration within their jurisdictions.
At a recent stakeholders’ engagement in Lagos, state officials explained that the first phase of enforcement would focus on MDAs to set an example of compliance, before extending to traders, artisans, transport workers and other players in the informal sector. The move, according to the government, will strengthen the healthcare financing system and reduce out-of-pocket spending by residents.
The government stressed that community leadership is critical to the success of the programme, noting that LG and LCDA chairmen are best positioned to drive awareness, build trust and encourage enrolment at the ward and neighbourhood levels. They were urged to integrate health insurance advocacy into existing community structures and programmes.
In recognition of outstanding efforts in promoting health insurance awareness, 10 council chairmen were decorated as EKOSHA Icons, an honour reserved for leaders who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to expanding coverage and supporting universal health access in their communities.
Officials reiterated that mandatory health insurance is not punitive but protective, describing it as a social safety net that guarantees timely treatment and improved health outcomes for families. They assured residents that accredited health facilities are being continuously monitored to maintain service quality.
With enforcement set to roll out in phases, the Lagos State Government reaffirmed its resolve to achieve universal health coverage by ensuring that no resident is excluded from the healthcare system due to financial constraints.
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