The Lagos State Government, through its Ministry of Health, has pledged sweeping reforms aimed at transforming healthcare delivery for millions of residents in Africa’s most populous city.
During the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing, the State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, presented a comprehensive review of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s six-year tenure in the health sector. He described the period as one marked by “radical transformation in the architecture, access, and resilience of Lagos’ healthcare system,” attributing these advancements to effective collaboration between government agencies, medical professionals, and development partners.
“Lagos is home to approximately 30 million people, with a rapid annual population growth rate of 6 to 8 percent, this places significant demand on our health system, requiring smart, scalable, and resilient solutions,” he said.
Professor Abayomi highlighted the dual nature of the state’s health system, comprising 360 public health facilities and over 3,500 private ones. While acknowledging the challenges posed by the largely unregulated private sector, he assured that efforts are ongoing to bridge the gap and promote equity and quality across the board.
The Commissioner further explained that the state’s ongoing healthcare initiatives are aligned with the Lagos State Development Plan (2022–2052), which aims to secure Universal Health Coverage and elevate Lagos as a premier destination for medical tourism in sub-Saharan Africa.
Despite Lagos recording the lowest maternal mortality rate in Nigeria—430 per 100,000 live births—Abayomi expressed concern over the figure and outlined the government’s goal to drastically reduce this to 37 per 100,000 within the next 20 to 30 years. “We’ve declared zero tolerance for preventable maternal deaths,” he stated.
He also highlighted the fact that only 5% of Lagosians are enrolled in health insurance and shared the state’s long-term objective of achieving universal health coverage within two decades. To support this vision, the Commissioner called for a substantial increase in health sector funding, from the current 8% allocation to the targeted 15%, aided by strategic budget adjustments throughout the year.
Addressing the ongoing brain drain in Nigeria’s medical field, Abayomi emphasised the need for heavy investment in human capital. With just 7,000 doctors available to serve a population of 30 million—far below the WHO recommendation of one doctor per 600 patients—he highlighted a shortfall of around 33,000 doctors. “That’s why we are prioritising training,” he said.
A major component of this initiative is the University of Medicine and Health Sciences (UMH), expected to train 2,500 students annually, with 40% entering the medical profession. He noted that the legislative framework is nearly finalised and construction is ongoing at strategic sites including the Cardiorenal Centre in Gbagada and the Isolation Centre at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba.
Abayomi reaffirmed the state’s commitment to its ‘Prevent, Test, Treat, Track’ strategy, which focuses on preventative healthcare practices like the use of insecticide-treated nets and proper sanitation to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds. He also cautioned against assuming every fever is malaria, stressing the dangers of misdiagnosis.