Lagos State has renewed its push for mandatory health insurance, saying broader coverage is needed to protect residents from financial hardship caused by costly medical treatment. Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said the policy was reinforced by the successful treatment of beneficiaries of the state’s Free Health Initiative.
Abayomi said an executive order making health insurance compulsory in Lagos was intended to remove financial barriers to timely healthcare.
He stressed that insurance would spread healthcare costs across the population and protect families from catastrophic expenses, noting that residents should not have to sell property or exhaust their savings to access life-saving treatment.
The commissioner also said Lagos was investing in local specialist capacity to reduce dependence on overseas treatment. He highlighted efforts to develop advanced cardiac and paediatric services in the state and praised cardiothoracic surgeon Prof. Bode Falase for helping to build Nigeria’s capacity in complex cardiac surgery.
The government cited 19-year-old Lydia Ogungbayi as one beneficiary whose life was transformed by the initiative. Lydia underwent a 10-hour cardiac operation in December 2025 after suffering from constrictive pericarditis and progressive swelling for almost six years. The state contributed ₦5 million towards her treatment, with additional resources mobilised to support the surgery.
Other beneficiaries included 16-year-old Moshood Muritala, who was diagnosed with Transposition of the Great Arteries and underwent multiple surgeries in India, and three-year-old Ayoife George, who received treatment for heart defects at Aster MIMS Calicut Hospital in Kerala, India. Moshood was recently able to return to Nigeria after additional funding, including $10,000 raised through government and private support.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, said the cases reflected the administration’s efforts to provide quality healthcare despite limited resources. She disclosed that the ministry receives hundreds of requests for financial assistance with treatment, refunds and overseas medical care, making the prioritisation of cases necessary.
The Lagos government said its long-term strategy is to combine mandatory health insurance with stronger local specialist healthcare capacity. Abayomi said the approach would reduce both the financial burden of illness on families and the need to seek treatment abroad, with the ultimate goal of ensuring that sickness does not push Lagos residents into poverty.
