CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
The Lagos State Government has given all residents, employers and workers in Lagos till December 31, 2026 to obtain health insurance coverage, warning that enforcement of mandatory health insurance will begin on January 1, 2027.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced the deadline on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, while launching the Lagos Private Health Plan (LPHP) Partnership and flagging off enforcement of mandatory health insurance under Executive Order EO/BOS/01/2024 at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island.
According to the governor, the policy is aimed at ending out-of-pocket payment for healthcare and ensuring every Lagos resident can access quality healthcare without financial hardship.
http://P.M.EXPRESS reports that the initiative is anchored on Executive Order EO/BOS/01/2024 signed by Governor Sanwo-Olu on July 16, 2024, which makes health insurance compulsory for all Lagos residents.
What The New Law Says
Speaking at the event themed “Lagos Covered, a Shared Commitment, a Healthier Lagos,” Sanwo-Olu said every resident, every employer and every worker in Lagos is required to have social health insurance.
“Every resident, every employer, and every worker in Lagos is required to have social health insurance. The executive order places responsibilities on individuals, employers and the government,” the governor said.
He announced a moratorium until December 31, 2026, to give residents and employers time to enrol before enforcement begins.
“The ultimate objective of the Executive Order goes beyond enforcement. It is to ensure that every Lagos resident is covered by health insurance and can access quality healthcare services without suffering financial hardship,” Sanwo-Olu said.
The governor also unveiled the Lagos Private Health Plans (LPHP), designed to extend health insurance coverage to salary earners and corporate organisations, which will complement the existing Ilera Eko scheme that serves vulnerable residents and people in the informal sector.
How Much Is Lagos Health Insurance?
http://P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the cost of health insurance in Lagos depends on the plan chosen.
The state-owned Ilera Eko plans start at *N15,000 annually* (Standard Jaara) for basic individual coverage for residents in the informal sector. Family plan of 6 is N45,000.
Higher-tier private HMO plans under the Lagos Private Health Plan (LPHP), offering access to premium hospitals and comprehensive inpatient care, can exceed N200,000 annually per person, depending on the HMO and hospital.
Where To Enrol In Alimosho, Idimu, Ejigbo, Igando – EXCLUSIVE LOCAL ANGLE
For residents of Idimu Road, Ejigbo, Ikotun, Igando, Egbeda, Isheri-Idimu in Alimosho LGA, http://P.M.EXPRESS can confirm you don’t need to go to Victoria Island to enrol.
You can enrol for Ilera Eko at these centres in Alimosho:
1. Alimosho General Hospital, Igando: LASHMA desk is at NHIS office inside the hospital, open Monday-Friday 8am-4pm. Bring NIN and passport photo.
2. Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in Alimosho:
– Rauf Aregbesola PHC, Idimu Road, Idimu (beside Idimu Police Division)
– Bola Ahmed Tinubu PHC, Ejigbo Road, Ejigbo
– Akowonjo PHC, Akowonjo Road
– Egbeda PHC, Egbeda-Idimu Road
3. LASHMA Agents in Alimosho Markets: LASHMA agents are stationed at Ikotun Market, Egbeda Market, Idimu Market every Thursday to register traders for Ilera Eko at N15,000. Ask for “Ilera Eko agents with yellow apron”.
A LASHMA official in Alimosho told http://P.M.EXPRESS that residents of Idimu and Ejigbo are the least enrolled in Alimosho, with less than 5% coverage.
“Many people in Idimu, Ejigbo think Ilera Eko is only for civil servants. It is not. Okada rider, hairdresser, mechanic in Idimu can enrol with N15,000 and get free treatment for malaria, BP, diabetes, delivery at Alimosho General Hospital. With this Dec 31 deadline, we are moving to mosques, churches and CDAs in Idimu and Ejigbo to enrol people,” the official said.
Residents who prefer private HMO under Lagos Private Health Plan can enrol through any of the 21 accredited HMOs via their employers.
21 HMOs Deny Endorsing Lagos Plan, Kick Against 13% Levy
In a dramatic twist, Health Maintenance Organisations under two industry associations have disputed the Lagos State Government’s claim that 21 HMOs endorsed its newly launched Lagos Private Health Plan.
The Health and Managed Care Association of Nigeria (HMCAN) and the Association of Health Insurance Practitioners of Nigeria (AHIPN) in a joint statement signed by their chairmen, Dr. Abdulkadri Osumah and Ben Okpalla respectively, said attendance at the launch did not amount to endorsement.
“The Health and Managed Care Association of Nigeria, the umbrella association of Health Maintenance Organisations, unequivocally states that it has not endorsed the Lagos Private Health Plan (LPHP) partnership as presented. HMCAN and AHIPN will not endorse its implementation until the requisite National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) approval is obtained, in line with the NHIA Act 2022,” the associations said.
They also called for clarification on a proposed 13 per cent levy on private-sector health insurance arrangements, warning that additional charges could increase costs for employers and reduce funds available for patient care.
The HMOs argued that all health plans required prior NHIA approval and that a communique issued after discussions between NHIA and Lagos State in October 2025 recognised NHIA as the statutory regulator, while HMO participation in Lagos plan is voluntary.
They also called for a review of the December 31, 2026, compliance deadline, arguing that employers needed adequate notice and a realistic transition period before sanctions begin.
Will You Be Arrested If You Don’t Have Insurance?
http://P.M.EXPRESS asked what will happen after December 31, 2026.
Lagos State Government said the objective is compliance rather than confrontation, but the Enforcement Task Force will begin enforcement from January 1, 2027.
Although the government has not yet published sanctions, sources at LASHMA said enforcement may include denial of access to certain public services, fines for employers who fail to enrol staff, and compulsory enrolment at points of accessing government hospitals.
It was gathered that the Enforcement Task Force will include officials from LASHMA, Ministry of Health, and security agencies. At LGA level in Alimosho, officials may be deployed to check compliance at workplaces and during hospital visits.
Governor Sanwo-Olu urged employers and workers to use the grace period to select appropriate insurance plans and complete their enrolment before the deadline.
Target: From 2 Million To 10 Million Insured Lagosians
Currently, Lagos has about 2 million residents enrolled in health insurance out of over 20 million population.
The state has set a target of increasing the number of insured residents to at least 10 million by 2027 through the new private health plans and Ilera Eko.
Residents are advised to enrol before December 31, 2026 to avoid last-minute rush and enforcement.
For enquiries in Alimosho, residents can visit LASHMA desk at Alimosho General Hospital Igando or call LASHMA hotline.
