LASHMA unveils EasyPay scheme to boost coverage for informal sector
The Lagos State Government has introduced a wallet-based payment solution, ILERA EKO EasyPay, to ease health insurance premium payments for residents, increasing funding for the health insurance equity programme to ₦3 billion in 2026 to support indigent residents.
The initiative, unveiled through the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), is designed to reduce the financial burden on enrollees by enabling flexible, incremental payments, particularly for 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 allows residents to contribute towards their health insurance premiums in instalments, saying “This platform ensures that more Lagos residents can access quality healthcare without the burden of large upfront payments. We are not denying anyone their rights; rather, we are creating structured pathways to ensure every resident is covered”.
Providing updates on the agency’s performance, Zamba said LASHMA recorded notable progress in the first quarter of 2026 in expanding awareness and compliance, including targeted public sensitisation efforts.
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).
In addition, LASHMA is promoting youth engagement through the ILERA EKO Essay Competition in public schools, which attracted over 700 entries, with 12 winners selected as health insurance ambassadors.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr. Bajulaiye Olanrewaju, commended the initiative and lauded the inclusion of schoolchildren as a thoughtful and impactful decision.
