Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has disclosed that the state is grappling with a critical shortage of about 40,000 doctors and a similar number of nurses, while its health budget falls at least N100 billion short of what is required to adequately serve its population. The governor made this revelation on Thursday at the opening of the second Eko Health Convention, held at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Governor Highlights Severe Workforce and Funding Deficits
According to PUNCH, Sanwo-Olu described the twin problems of workforce shortage and insufficient funding as the most pressing threats to healthcare in the state. He stated, "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 also cautioned that international donor support, which had underpinned much of the state's disease control work for two decades, was contracting and unlikely to return in its previous form. This shrinkage poses additional risks to ongoing health programs.
Government's Response: Recruitment and Insurance Expansion
Despite the scale of the challenge, Sanwo-Olu said the government had taken concrete steps to address the deficit. These include aggressive recruitment across all 29 secondary healthcare facilities, the construction of accommodation for health workers, and plans to establish a University of Medicine and Health Sciences.
On health coverage, the governor revealed that more than 1.5 million residents are now enrolled in Ilera Eko, the state's compulsory social health insurance scheme. He gave the figure as 1,502,994 as at the end of May 2026, noting that more than half of those enrolled are women. He added that rising utilisation rates showed that coverage was translating into actual medical care.
The Lagos State Health Management Agency's Assistance in Distress programme, which became operational in March 2026, has saved 18 lives since its launch, covering cases ranging from road traffic injuries to obstetric emergencies and strokes.
Digital Tools to Strengthen Health Delivery
Sanwo-Olu said the government was also rolling out the Lagos Smart Health Information Platform across public health institutions. The system will allow patient records to be accessed across different facilities, improve disease surveillance, and support planning decisions. The state is also investing in artificial intelligence and digital tools to strengthen diagnostics and medical imaging.
The governor closed his remarks by stressing that his administration's focus was on building systems that would outlast his tenure. "We have kept our promises. Now we are building the systems that will keep them long after us," he said.
Context: Nationwide Doctor Strike
Legit.ng earlier reported that the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) called on the Federal Government to immediately conclude a long-delayed Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) as its indefinite strike entered its 17th day on November 17. The union also demanded a review of the outdated Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS). Reports indicated that the strike, which began earlier this month, had disrupted medical services in 91 hospitals nationwide, including federal teaching hospitals, specialist institutions, and federal medical centres, affecting patients across the country.
