Health
1.5m Lagosians enrolled in Ilera Eko as LASHMA targets informal sector
Angela Onwuzoo
The Lagos State Health Management Agency says it has enrolled over 1.5 million residents in the state’s health insurance scheme, Ilera Eko, as part of efforts to expand access to affordable healthcare and reduce out-of-pocket spending on medical services.
Of the 1,502,994 residents enrolled as of May 31, 2026, 54 per cent are female and 46 per cent male. Residents aged 18 to 60 account for more than 62 per cent of enrollees, while those aged five to 18 years make up 23 per cent.
The Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Dr Emmanuella Zamba, disclosed this on Thursday during the agency’s second-quarter media parley in Lagos. The annual event highlights the agency’s activities, progress, and next steps toward achieving Universal Health Coverage in the state.
Ilera Eko is a social health insurance initiative of the Lagos State Government managed by LASHMA.
LASHMA was established by a law signed in May 2015, while the mandatory health insurance scheme it manages, Ilera Eko, was officially launched in December 2018.
Highlighting the agency’s initiatives in making healthcare more affordable and accessible to Lagosians, Zamba told more than 40 journalists at the event that an increasing number of enrollees are actively utilising healthcare services, describing the trend as a strong indicator of trust and relevance.
“LASHMA covers all LGAs and LCDAs in Lagos State and, as of May 31, 2026, has a customer portfolio of 1,502,994.
“Utilisation continues to rise, showing that coverage is translating into real access to care.
“Increasing demand underscores the need to sustain quality, strengthen provider capacity, and ensure efficient service delivery,” she said.
Citing the agency’s achievements, Zamba said Ilera Eko is moving beyond enrolment to delivering measurable health impact.
Beyond improving access to affordable healthcare and expanding its services, she disclosed that the agency, through its emergency intervention programme for vulnerable enrollees, LASHMA Assistance in Distress (LASHMA-AID), has saved 18 lives by providing emergency life-saving interventions to residents in critical condition since the programme became operational in March 2026.
“You will recall that on Thursday, December 18, 2025, the agency, in line with the Executive Order, officially launched the LASHMA Assistance in Distress (LASHMA-AID) initiative and commenced the Emergency Service Programme for residents of the state, especially Ilera Eko enrollees and vulnerable populations, in March 2026.
“Today, it gladdens my heart to inform you that the programme has been yielding positive results, and LASHMA has been able to save 18 lives, particularly among the vulnerable population,” she explained.
Zamba noted that following the enforcement of mandatory social health insurance through the Executive Order issued by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the inauguration of the enforcement team, significant progress had been recorded among ministries, departments, and agencies expected to comply with the directive.
The PS said LASHMA had intensified its pre-enforcement activities at the grassroots level and revealed that the second phase of the state’s enforcement strategy would target the informal sector.
To deepen access to affordable healthcare, Zamba said the agency had recruited Ilera-Ibile officers to boost community participation.
According to her, the Ilera-Ibile officers are responsible for sensitising, educating, registering, and mobilising community members to benefit from the scheme.
“The essence of Ilera-Ibile is to foster community ownership, alongside other efforts aimed at increasing public awareness,” she said.
The PS also announced that a new policy would be introduced in August, although details were not disclosed.
Listing other initiatives undertaken by the agency, Zamba said, “In our quest to provide quality and equitable healthcare services to all residents of the state, especially the vulnerable, and in line with our mantra, ‘Ilera Eko, Leaving No One Behind,’ the agency launched the EKO Social Health Alliance (EKOSHA) Rural Health Scheme in Agboyi Ori-Omi under Agboyi-Ketu LCDA.
“The essence of this initiative is to ensure that people living in underserved areas where there is no Primary Health Centre have access to healthcare services through the Mobile Health Van.”
In his presentation, the Technical Adviser to the Permanent Secretary, LASHMA, Dr Nifesimi Akinnagbe, said enforcement of the Executive Order had increased penetration of the health insurance scheme within the informal sector.
He noted: “Since over 70 per cent of Lagos residents operate within the informal sector, we have consistently engaged community leaders on the significance of Ilera Eko as a reliable means of accessing quality and affordable healthcare.
“Presently, we have Ilera Eko advocates who promote the scheme at the grassroots and community levels.”
Also speaking, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Olanrewaju Bajulaiye, described the media as a critical partner in promoting transparency and strengthening healthcare delivery across Lagos State.
He urged LASHMA to continue publicising its activities and achievements to increase enrolment in the state’s health insurance scheme and reduce out-of-pocket healthcare spending among residents.
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