Mrs Onatunde Morenike, Chief Education Officer representing the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education; Mrs Kemi Salau, Deputy Director, Student Support Service, Ministry of Tertiary Education representing the Permanent Secretary ; Mr Olanrewaju Bajulaiye, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Information and Strategy, Lagos State; Dr Emmanuella Zamba, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) and Dr. Lukman Salami, Associate Professor, Lagos State University (LASU) representing the Vice Chancellor at the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) Y2026 Q1 Media parley held on Monday at LCCI, Alausa, Ikeja
By Kayode Olopade
Determined to accelerate universal health insurance coverage, the Lagos State Government has introduced a wallet-based payment solution, ILERA EKO EasyPay, aimed at easing premium payment for residents.
The initiative, unveiled through the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), is designed to reduce the financial burden on enrollees by allowing flexible, incremental payments, particularly targeting low- and middle-income earners in the informal sector.
The Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, disclosed this during a quarterly media briefing on Monday, noting that the platform builds on the existing “Pay-Small-Small” scheme.
She explained that ILERA EKO EasyPay enables residents to contribute towards their health insurance premiums in bits, in line with prevailing economic realities.
According to her, the innovation is part of the government’s strategy to eliminate longstanding financial barriers that have limited participation in health insurance schemes.
“This platform ensures that more Lagos residents can access quality healthcare without the burden of large upfront payments,” Zamba said.
The development comes amid intensified enforcement of the state’s compulsory health insurance policy, backed by an executive order signed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Under the policy, residents may be required to present proof of health insurance to access selected public services, including school enrolment and licence renewals.
Zamba clarified that the policy is not intended to be punitive but to encourage compliance while protecting access to essential services.
“We are not denying anyone their rights. Rather, we are creating structured pathways to ensure every resident is covered,” she added.
Providing updates on the agency’s performance, Zamba said LASHMA recorded notable progress in the first quarter of 2026 in expanding awareness and compliance.
She disclosed that the agency, in partnership with the International Society of Media in Public Health, trained 72 journalists to enhance reporting on social health insurance, while also conducting its first compliance assessment across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
As part of its operational restructuring, LASHMA has introduced cluster managers and area commanders to strengthen grassroots engagement and simplify registration processes across local government areas.
The agency has also commenced training for healthcare providers to align with the new policy framework, with enforcement expected to extend to provider compliance in the next phase.
In addition, LASHMA is promoting youth engagement through the ILERA EKO Essay Competition in public schools, which attracted over 700 entries. Twelve winners have been selected and designated as health insurance ambassadors.
Zamba further reaffirmed the government’s commitment to vulnerable groups, revealing that funding for the health insurance equity programme has been increased to ₦3 billion in 2026 to support indigent residents.
She stressed the importance of health insurance as a critical safeguard against financial shocks resulting from illness.
“Illness does not give notice. Health insurance ensures that even without cash at hand, residents can confidently access care when needed,” she said.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr. Bajulaiye Olanrewaju, welcomed participants to the important media parley, commending the organisers for considering it necessary to engage journalists in such a significant event. He also lauded the inclusion of schoolchildren, describing it as a thoughtful and impactful decision.
According to him, “Any nation that seeks growth must prioritise the welfare of its children and young people. You children have been carried along by the government; therefore, do not hesitate to inform others who are not here that the Lagos State Government is doing everything possible to make life better for you,” Bajulaiye said.
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