Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), announcing the signing of an Executive Order that makes health insurance mandatory for all residents of the state.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the governor made this known during the maiden edition of the Eko Health Convention 2025, organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Health, held at Jewel Aeida, Lekki.
The event had the theme, “Lagos Health: Driving Innovation, Strengthening Systems, Leading Change.”
Represented by his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, Sanwo-Olu explained that the new order aligns with the National Health Insurance Act, ensuring that every Lagosian contributes based on their capacity and receives protection when in need of healthcare.
“Without a shared pool of resources, universal health coverage is impossible,” he said. “When everyone participates, we protect families from financial hardship, strengthen hospitals, and make healthcare stable and equitable for all.”
The governor noted that the ILERA EKO health insurance scheme, launched in 2021, laid the foundation for this milestone, while the new Executive Order would help make healthcare access more inclusive and sustainable.
Sanwo-Olu further highlighted the state’s investment in emergency response systems through the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), emphasizing that timely emergency care must be a right, not a privilege.
“Today, Lagos boasts 360 public health facilities and over 3,500 private ones forming a unified ecosystem where public and private providers work side by side to bridge divides and expand access,” he said.
The governor urged stakeholders to deepen investment in healthcare innovation, technology, and corporate social responsibility, stressing that good health is a shared responsibility that requires collective effort from all sectors and citizens.
He also restated that health and environment remain at the heart of his administration’s THEMES agenda, listing key achievements such as:
- Commissioning of new Maternal and Child Centres in Eti-Osa, Badagry, and Epe
- Renovation and expansion of General Hospitals
- Construction of critical health facilities, including the New Massey Street Specialist Children’s Hospital, Ojo General Hospital, Lagos State Mental Health Institute (Ketu-Ejirin), and Cardio-Renal Centre (Gbagada)
Lagos Sets Bold Agenda for Healthcare Transformation
Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, unveiled a new Lagos Health Transformation Blueprint, aimed at positioning the state as Africa’s leading health and innovation hub.
He disclosed that Lagos loses about $1.5 billion annually to medical tourism, a figure higher than the state’s entire health budget. The new blueprint, he said, will help reverse that trend by building world-class facilities, expanding health insurance coverage, and creating jobs in the medical and biotech sectors.
“Our goal is clear, Lagos must become the health capital of Sub-Saharan Africa,” Abayomi stated.
According to him, the plan includes climate-resilient hospital designs, modern general hospitals, a 500-bed psychiatric and rehabilitation centre, and the establishment of the Lagos State University of Medicine and Health Science.
It also introduces a Smart Health Information Platform (SHIP) to connect all public hospitals and health centres for efficient data sharing and decision-making.
In her remarks, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, emphasized the importance of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in achieving the state’s healthcare goals.
“We believe in collaboration because government alone cannot do it all,” she said. “Our vision is to empower citizens to take control of their health and ensure access to quality, affordable care for everyone.”
