Lagos Residents Decry New Policy as LASHMA Stops Full Maternity Coverage

Residents of Lagos State are raising concerns over recent changes to the Ilera Eko health insurance scheme, which they say no longer covers maternity services and cesarean sections (C-sections) as previously promised. The Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), which manages the scheme, has reportedly introduced new policies limiting access to delivery benefits—leaving many expectant mothers disappointed and financially burdened.

LASHMA was established through a law signed in May 2015, while the Ilera Eko scheme was officially launched in December 2018. The initiative was celebrated as a major step toward achieving universal health coverage in Nigeria’s commercial hub, designed to ensure that every resident, regardless of social class, could access quality healthcare at an affordable cost.

Under the plan, individuals and families could register with a modest premium and access a wide range of medical services in both public and private hospitals across the state. Services initially covered included maternity care, treatment for common ailments, laboratory tests, surgeries, and emergency services.

However, in recent months, beneficiaries say the scheme has stopped covering maternity and delivery costs. At the General Hospital, Ijede, a patient with a valid LASHMA card reportedly paid ₦87,000 after delivering vaginally—contrary to earlier assurances that childbirth services were included.

During antenatal sessions at the hospital, a LASHMA representative informed expectant mothers that under a new policy, only enrollees who had been active users of their health insurance card for at least six months before delivery would qualify for maternity benefits. Those who registered from July 2025 were told they would have to pay for delivery out of pocket.

Many residents have expressed disappointment, saying the change undermines the very purpose of the Ilera Eko scheme, which was initially embraced because it covered delivery, C-sections, and other essential services. The revision, they argue, has dashed the hopes of low-income families who relied on the scheme for affordable and safe maternal healthcare.

Observers and health advocates are now calling on LASHMA and the Lagos State Government to review the policy and restore the full maternity coverage that once made Ilera Eko a trusted safety net for women and families across the state.