By Ayomide Otitoju
The Lagos State Government has intensified efforts to entrench mandatory health insurance with the formal investiture of the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. (Mrs) Kemi Ogunyemi, as Enforcement Leads of the Lagos State Health Scheme Executive Order and ILERA EKO Champions.
The ceremony, held on January 19, 2026, at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Health, highlighted the state’s resolve to accelerate enrolment and strengthen compliance with the ILERA EKO Social Health Insurance Scheme.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Abayomi described the recognition as both symbolic and strategic, noting that the state is deliberately shifting residents away from out-of-pocket healthcare spending to insurance-based financing.
“We have been battling with how to increase enrolment in ILERA EKO and change the culture of cash payment for healthcare. Insurance is a social safety net, and this mindset shift is non-negotiable,” he said.
The Commissioner recalled that Lagos became the first state to domesticate the 2022 National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act through an Executive Order issued in July 2024, making health insurance mandatory. He said the move reflected Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s strong commitment to healthcare financing reform.
“When a governor personally edits and re-edits a document, it shows how critical that issue is to the future of Lagosians,” Abayomi said.
He also cautioned against the stigmatization of insured patients, describing negative attitudes toward ILERA EKO enrollees as a major barrier to uptake. According to him, insurance compliance will be prioritised during health facility inspections.
“If someone presents an ILERA EKO card and is treated as inferior, uptake will suffer. That must stop. The key question I will keep asking is: ‘Where is the ILERA EKO?’” he said.
In her remarks, Dr. Ogunyemi said the enforcement role goes beyond a ceremonial title, stressing that the health insurance scheme is now backed by law.
“This is about achieving Universal Health Coverage and ensuring equitable access to quality healthcare for everyone in Lagos State,” she said, adding that ILERA EKO aligns with the state’s THEMES+ development agenda.
She commended the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) for sustained sensitisation efforts across the state but noted that gaps in public awareness remain.
“People are still asking, ‘What is ILERA EKO?’ and ‘Where do I enrol?’ These questions show that the work must continue,” Ogunyemi said.
She urged directors and health officials across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to mainstream ILERA EKO advocacy in all programmes, stressing that responsibility for promoting health insurance does not rest with LASHMA alone.
“When people present medical bills, the first question should be: are you insured?” she said, adding that early enrolment is essential as premiums are expected to rise over time.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, said the investiture was a critical step in positioning leadership to drive enforcement of the Executive Order across the public service.
“What we are undertaking is pioneering in Nigeria. All eyes are on Lagos as we demonstrate how mandatory health insurance can work,” she said.
Zamba disclosed that enforcement nominees across MDAs have been trained, with structures put in place to ensure compliance beyond the health sector, particularly among public-facing institutions.
She explained that the formal designation of Prof. Abayomi and Dr. Ogunyemi as Enforcement Leaders, alongside the Head of Service, was intended to strengthen compliance while recognising their consistent advocacy for universal health coverage.
Delivering the closing remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Dayo Lajide, said the ceremony marked the beginning of more intensive enforcement efforts rather than a mere formality.
“While it may appear ceremonial, it carries significant responsibility and signals the commencement of serious enforcement,” Lajide said.
He assured stakeholders of the Ministry’s full commitment to collaboration and leadership in driving the initiative, noting that healthcare delivery is a collective responsibility.
The event concluded with the formal decoration of Prof. Abayomi and Dr. Ogunyemi as Enforcement Leads and ILERA EKO Champions, reinforcing Lagos State’s determination to expand health insurance coverage and strengthen its healthcare system through mandatory participation.
