The Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) says it has increased efforts to expand health insurance coverage and unveiled new plans to improve access, strengthen compliance, and target low-income earners and the informal sector.
Permanent secretary Emmanuella Zamba confirmed this on Monday during the LASHMA 2026 first quarter media briefing.
She offered a wide reform agenda centred on policy enforcement, payment system innovation, and greater collaboration with journalists and community groups.
In response to economic difficulties and citizen input, Ms Zamba revealed that the agency had launched a new wallet-based payment method called “Ilera Eko Easy Pay” to make health insurance more affordable.
The platform allowed users to make incremental contributions over three months toward their premiums, rather than paying lump sums upfront.
She emphasised that the innovation removed financial obstacles and provided people with freedom, building on the organization’s previous programs aimed at low- and middle-income earners.
She stated that the agency’s main goal was to execute a 2024 executive order mandating health insurance coverage for Lagos citizens.
The instruction, supported by the state government, mandated ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to guarantee that residents seeking public services provided proof of enrolment in a health insurance plan.
Ms Zamba stated that the first phase of enforcement has already begun within MDAs, with compliance checks and enrolment verification mechanisms in place.
According to her, a recent assessment confirms improved uptake among public servants following directives issued by the state’s Head of Service.
“The goal is to ensure that access to services is tied to health insurance coverage, thereby accelerating enrolment,” Ms Zamba said.
Subsequent phases, she said, would target the informal sector, both organised and unstructured, as well as vulnerable populations unable to pay, before extending enforcement to corporate organisations.
Highlighting the media’s role in promoting health insurance awareness, Ms Zamba revealed that 72 journalists were trained in partnership with the International Society of Media Persons in Public Health during the first quarter of 2026.
“This platform remains vital for strengthening collaboration with the media, whose role in informing and shaping public perception cannot be overstated,” she said.
She added that the agency has restructured its operational framework to improve outreach, introducing roles such as cluster managers, area coordinators and community-level officers to simplify registration and bring services closer to residents.
The permanent secretary stressed the necessity of raising public knowledge and engagement in order to expand health insurance coverage.
Ms Zamba stated that in order to raise early awareness, LASHMA launched a nationwide essay competition for public school students, which received 713 entries.
The project, she explained, was part of a larger strategy to raise a generation that values preventive healthcare and financial safety.
Speaking more about the Ilera Eko Easy Pay, Olatunji Rotimi, LASHMA’s head of business development, said individuals may activate coverage after saving a set amount, while families could pool contributions for group enrolment.
Mr Rotimi described the concept as an electronic wallet accessible via mobile platforms, with safe transactions, automated tracking, and the option to earn interest on investments.
Speaking about the executive order’s implementation, Nifesimi Akinnagbe, technical assistant to the PS, stated that LASHMA is increasing grassroots engagement through local governments and community groups to boost enrolment.
Mr Akinnagbe said town hall meetings were also being held across communities to gather feedback and tailor service delivery to meet enrollees’ needs.
He added that a government-run equity fund continued to support vulnerable individuals who couldn’t afford premiums.
Beyond expanding enrolment, he said the agency was also focused on improving the quality of care delivered through accredited facilities.
He said a statewide compliance readiness assessment had been conducted across primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities to ensure they met required standards.
Mr Akinnagbe said healthcare providers were also undergoing training to align with the new policy framework, with enforcement expected to extend to service providers in the next phase.
“We remain committed to transparency, collaboration and ensuring that every resident has access to quality, affordable healthcare,” he said.
Olanrewaju Bajulaiye, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Information and Strategy, praised the students and LASHMA, and urged the media to continue raising awareness about health insurance.
Winners of the essay competition were honoured for their inventive approaches to health concerns and will serve as youth ambassadors for health insurance advocacy.
