Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has declared that the state requires approximately 40,000 additional doctors and an equal number of nurses to adequately serve its rapidly growing population, while estimating a funding shortfall of at least ₦100 billion in the health sector.
The Governor made the disclosure on Thursday while unveiling a comprehensive roadmap for sustainable healthcare delivery at the opening of the second Eko Health Convention held at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Governor Sanwo-Olu identified the shortage of healthcare personnel and inadequate funding as the two most critical challenges confronting the state’s health system. He also warned that international donor funding for disease control programmes, which had supported the sector for nearly two decades, is shrinking significantly and is unlikely to return to previous levels.
“Lagos needs about 40,000 doctors to serve this population properly. We have about 7,000. We need roughly 40,000 more nurses. Every doctor in Lagos today is, in effect, doing the work of 10,” the Governor stated.
On funding, he noted: “There is a shortfall of at least ₦100 billion between what our health budget currently provides and what this system genuinely requires.”
Despite the challenges, Governor Sanwo-Olu outlined concrete measures already being implemented under his administration’s new healthcare roadmap. These include aggressive recruitment of clinical staff across all 29 secondary healthcare facilities, construction of accommodation for health workers, improved welfare packages to retain existing personnel and attract professionals from the diaspora, and plans to establish a University of Medicine and Health Sciences.
The Governor also highlighted progress in health insurance coverage, revealing that more than 1.5 million Lagos residents (1,502,994 as of the end of May 2026) have enrolled in the state’s Ilera Eko social health insurance scheme, with women accounting for more than half of the beneficiaries. He noted that utilisation rates are rising, indicating that coverage is translating into actual care.
He further disclosed that the Lagos State Health Management Agency’s Assistance in Distress (AID) programme has saved 18 lives since becoming operational in March 2026, covering cases of road traffic injuries, surgical emergencies, obstetric crises, and strokes.
As part of the digital transformation component of the roadmap, the Governor announced the ongoing rollout of the Lagos Smart Health Information Platform across public health institutions. The system will enable seamless access to patients’ medical records across facilities, strengthen disease surveillance, and support evidence-based planning. He added that the government is also investing in artificial intelligence and digital innovations to improve diagnosis, medical imaging, and overall service delivery.
Reaffirming his administration’s long-term vision, Governor Sanwo-Olu emphasised that key reforms including Ilera Eko, the health district system, and the digital health platform are designed as enduring institutions rather than short-term projects.
“We have kept our promises. Now we are building systems that will continue to serve the people long after we have left office,” he said.