The Lagos State Government has flagged off the enforcement of Executive Order EO/BOS/01/2024, introducing the Lagos Private Health Plans (LPHP) to expand health insurance coverage to salaried workers and corporate organisations.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced that residents and employers have until December 31, 2026, to secure coverage, as formal enforcement of the mandatory health insurance policy kicks off on January 1, 2027.

The new private sector arrangement complements the existing Ilera Eko scheme, which primarily targets vulnerable residents and workers in the informal sector. To drive the initiative, 21 Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) have partnered with the state government to expand access across corporate establishments.

To protect vulnerable residents unable to afford premiums on their own, the state government tripled its Health Equity Fund from ₦1 billion to ₦3 billion, covering over 500,000 citizens.

In addition, the state government instituted a strict directive for healthcare providers across the metropolis, warning that no hospital is permitted to turn away patients requiring emergency care due to financial constraints. Under the policy, medical facilities must stabilize patients before demanding payment or insurance verification.

Governor Sanwo-Olu stressed that employee healthcare remains a mandatory employer responsibility comparable to pension obligations, noting that the systemic upgrade aims to safeguard household finances against unexpected medical emergencies.

The spiritual director of Zion Prayer Movement Outreach, Evangelist Ebuka Obi, has shared controversial thoughts on modern relationships, warning men against the practice of training or financially supporting young women in anticipation of marriage.

According to the popular cleric, men who invest resources into sponsoring women often risk losing them to other suitors who have achieved greater financial success.

Speaking during a recent ministration, Obi asserted that contemporary relationship dynamics have shifted, suggesting that financial investment alone does not guarantee commitment.

“The fact remains that some of the girls you are training now will end up not marrying you,” Obi stated. “They will marry someone who has made it further in life than you. Women of this generation don’t care anymore. The only thing that will make a woman stand by you is if you have something she doesn’t have.”

The remarks have since drawn mixed reactions across social media platforms, sparking public debate among Nigerians regarding gender roles, expectations, financial support in courtships, and changing values in modern relationships.

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