Lagos Aim ₦400bn A Year For Health With Bigger Insurance Cover

Lagos State Government don talk say di state fit unlock over ₦400 billion every year for healthcare financing if at least 20 million residents enroll for dia health insurance scheme. Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, yarn dis during di launch of di Lagos Private Health Partnership (LPHP), one major reform wey aim to overhaul health financing, expand insurance coverage and give everybody equal access to quality healthcare. Abayomi explain say with average premium of ₦20,000 per person, Lagos fit pump serious money into di health system, but warn say without mass enrolment, dem no fit build functional, people-centred insurance ecosystem. E note say despite Lagos’ strong economy and over 25 million population, di state still dey struggle with low insurance uptake, small health funding, medical tourism and health workers wey dey japa. E describe LPHP as transparent public–private collaboration wey replace di old, fragmented insurance system wey cause price undercutting and loss of trust. Di new digital marketplace go handle enrolment, provider selection, funds flow, claims, monitoring and evaluation, with competition now based on value, not price. HEFAMAA go enforce quality assurance, while mandatory insurance under Ìlera Èkó go start full enforcement after six months sensitisation.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, represented by Mrs Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, call LPHP a historic step to protect households from heavy health bills and move Lagos from policy to real action. E say di reform, based on di 2024 Executive Order wey domesticate di NHIA Act, go strengthen private health providers wey handle over 70% of healthcare for Lagos. Di state don also introduce population-based enrolment for workers of private companies to balance risk and improve access to subsidised plans. Stakeholders like LASHMA Chairman, Dr. Adebayo Adedewe, and HCPAN adviser, Dr. Jimi Arigbabuwo, support di reform but beg government to ensure fair compensation for providers to keep di system stable. Meanwhile, rising cost of drugs and hospital consumables don shake Nigeria healthcare financing, push hospitals to increase tariffs and HMOs to raise premiums. Between 2024 and 2025, health insurance premiums don rise from 8% up to 59%, shifting more burden to consumers wey already dey struggle to afford quality care.