The Lagos State Government, through the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), has commissioned a new ILERA EKO Surulere Office to expand residents' access to social health insurance services as part of its ongoing implementation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The newly established service centre, located within the premises of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) in Surulere, is designed to provide a one-stop facility where residents can register for health insurance, enrol in the ILERA EKO scheme, update personal records, resolve service complaints, change healthcare providers and access other administrative services closer to their communities.
Speaking during the commissioning, the Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, described the new office as a strategic step towards strengthening the agency's grassroots presence and improving accessibility to affordable and equitable healthcare services. She noted that since commencing full operations in 2020, the agency has introduced several initiatives to expand health insurance coverage, including ILERA N' TIWA Cooperative, ILERA EASY PAY, ILERA EKO Telemedicine Services, ILERA IBILE community engagement programmes and LASHMA Assistance in Distress (LASHMA-AID) for emergency healthcare support.
The Permanent Secretary further explained that the agency currently operates divisional offices across the state's IBILE divisions, supported by forty ILERA EKO kiosks and community mobilisation personnel deployed throughout Lagos State. She also reiterated that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu's Executive Order of 16 July 2024 made social health insurance mandatory for every resident of Lagos State, reaffirming the government's commitment to ensuring that no resident is denied access to healthcare because of financial constraints.
During the event, traditional rulers, community development representatives, market associations and other stakeholders pledged continued support for community sensitisation and enrolment into the ILERA EKO scheme. LASHMA encouraged community leaders and residents to promote wider participation in the programme as part of the state's broader effort to strengthen financial protection against healthcare costs and improve access to quality healthcare services across Lagos.
The commissioning of the ILERA EKO Surulere Office represents an operational expansion of Lagos State's social health insurance infrastructure and demonstrates the government's continued investment in decentralising healthcare administration. Expanding physical access points enables residents to complete registration, receive administrative support and access insurance services without travelling long distances, thereby reducing barriers to enrolment and improving public utilisation of government healthcare programmes.
The initiative also supports Lagos State's broader objective of achieving Universal Health Coverage by strengthening access to financial risk protection in healthcare. Health insurance systems reduce the burden of out-of-pocket medical expenses, improve access to essential health services and contribute to more equitable healthcare delivery, particularly for vulnerable households. By expanding enrollment infrastructure alongside community awareness programmes, the government seeks to increase participation in the state's mandatory health insurance framework and improve overall population health outcomes.
The programme reflects the importance of integrating policy reforms with accessible service delivery mechanisms. While the Executive Order mandating social health insurance establishes the legal framework for universal participation, successful implementation depends upon the availability of convenient enrolment centres, responsive administrative systems and sustained public engagement. The establishment of the Surulere office therefore strengthens the institutional capacity required to translate policy into practical service delivery.
The commissioning illustrates Lagos State's continued emphasis on preventive health governance through expanded insurance coverage rather than reliance solely on treatment-based interventions. By combining decentralised service centres, digital innovations, telemedicine services and grassroots mobilisation, the government is pursuing a comprehensive approach to improving healthcare accessibility and financial protection. The long-term effectiveness of this strategy will depend on sustained public enrolment, efficient service delivery, adequate healthcare provider participation and continued investment in strengthening the state's social health insurance system.
Lagos State Policy Tracker: July 2026 Governance Index and Key Reforms | Updated July 30, 2026
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