Lagos State has reaffirmed its leadership in healthcare equity by tripling its equity fund for indigent residents from ₦1 billion in 2024 to ₦3 billion in 2025. This bold move was announced by Dr. Adebayo Adedewe, Chairman of the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) Board, at the 2025 ILERA EKO Annual Provider Forum held last Wednesday.
Dr. Adedewe noted that Lagos remains Nigeria’s only state to designate its equity fund as a first-line budget charge, demonstrating strong political will and a commitment to universal health coverage (UHC).
The annual forum, themed *“Driving Universal Health Coverage through Strategic Partnerships,”* convened over 800 stakeholders, including healthcare providers, policy leaders, and industry experts. Participants reaffirmed their support for Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s Executive Order mandating enrollment into the ILERA EKO Social Health Insurance Scheme and explored avenues for strengthening partnerships and operational reforms.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Adedewe praised healthcare providers for their dedication, calling them the “bedrock” of the ILERA EKO scheme.
“Your commitment has propelled our shared journey toward Universal Health Coverage,” he said, stressing the importance of partnerships in scaling impact and fostering public trust.
He outlined several reforms introduced by LASHMA, including performance-based provider categorization, revised fee-for-service tariffs, and the integration of community pharmacies into the scheme to enhance access and continuity of care.
Reaffirming Lagos’s leadership in health financing, Dr. Adedewe stated, “From ₦1 billion in 2024, Mr. Governor increased the equity fund to ₦3 billion this year, demonstrating true leadership and a firm commitment to equity.”
In her remarks, LASHMA’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, revealed that enforcement of mandatory health insurance in Lagos will commence in early 2026, following the Governor’s Executive Order issued in July 2024.
“We want all residents to be informed and enrolled before enforcement begins,” she said, encouraging Lagosians to view health insurance as essential financial protection.
Dr. Zamba highlighted key agency milestones, including onboarding over 865 healthcare providers and transitioning critical functions like service authorisation and claims vetting from third-party administrators to an internal team. This move, she said, has improved oversight and accelerated processing timelines.
She also announced the introduction of biometric verification systems in partnership with the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA), designed to enhance identity confirmation and reduce fraud.
“This innovation ensures enrollees receive timely and targeted care,” she said, inviting stakeholders to use the forum as a space for feedback and co-creation. “Together, we can build a more resilient health system.”
Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, underscored the importance of mutual understanding between providers and regulators.
“This forum allows both sides to reflect on challenges and improve implementation. Health insurance offers a win-win—sustainability for providers and financial protection for patients,” he noted.
Biola Paul-Ozie, Chairperson of the Healthcare Providers’ Association of Nigeria, praised LASHMA for setting a national benchmark and called for continuous tariff reviews and product innovation to further incentivize providers.
“We must work together to drive enrollment and ensure quality service delivery,” she said, adding that professionalism and ethical conduct must remain paramount.
Also speaking, Njide Ndili, President of the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria and Country Director at PharmAccess, described providers as the “anchors of Universal Health Coverage.” She applauded LASHMA for pioneering the incentive-based SafeCare quality framework, the first of its kind globally.
“Trust is the foundation of growth. When citizens trust the quality of care, they are more willing to prepay—and that drives sustainability,” she said.
The event culminated with the unveiling of ILERA EKO Provider Signages and awards of excellence presented to outstanding healthcare facilities for clinical quality, audit compliance, data integrity, enrollment performance, and overall service delivery.
As the forum concluded, stakeholders pledged to deepen collaboration and uphold the shared goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage for all Lagos residents.
With robust reforms in place and enforcement on the horizon, ILERA EKO continues to serve as a national model for inclusive and sustainable health insurance.
