- Lagos Launches Waka-Well, Home Konnect Insurance Packages for Diasporans, Travellers
- The Permanent Secretary also reaffirmed that recent policy adjustments around maternal and surgical services are yielding results
- Mr. Rotimi Olatunji, revealed that the Waka-Well plan covers basic illnesses common among travellers, including malaria, typhoid and diarrhoea
The Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) has expanded its Ilera-Eko health insurance offerings with the introduction of two new packages targeted at Nigerians in the diaspora and visitors entering the state.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the plans; Ilera-Eko Waka-Well and Ilera-Eko Home Konnect were unveiled on Tuesday during the Agency’s 2025 fourth Quarter Media Parley in Alausa.
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Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, said the initiative responds to rising demand from Nigerians abroad seeking sustainable health coverage for their families in Lagos, as well as the increasing need to protect visitors under the state’s mandatory health insurance policy. She noted that the launch aligns with the spirit of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day, which holds in three days.
Dr. Zamba explained that LASHMA’s quarterly media parleys, introduced in March 2025, have become a major platform for updates on reforms, new innovations and developments under the Lagos State Health Scheme (LSHS). She also highlighted ongoing initiatives such as the Ilera-N’tiwa Cooperative, Ilera-Eko Academy, telemedicine services and the Ilera-Eko Spotlight Online Radio Nigeria’s first health insurance radio channel.
On the new diaspora plans, she said LASHMA partnered with Pinnacle Global Business Services, Nomad Doc Limited, and Mrs. Taiwo Salvador to market the products both in Nigeria and globally. According to her, the restructured packages will better serve travellers, diasporans and families abroad who struggle with consistent healthcare support for loved ones in Lagos.
The Permanent Secretary also reaffirmed that recent policy adjustments around maternal and surgical services are yielding results without reducing the benefits guaranteed under the state’s social health insurance plan.
The Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr. Olanrewaju Bajulaiye, described the Ilera-Eko plan as the most affordable health insurance package for Lagos residents. He noted that a family of six can access comprehensive care for about ₦180 to ₦220 per day. He urged journalists to help amplify the scheme, revealing that many women have already benefitted from safe delivery services without financial burden.
In his remarks, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Diaspora and Foreign Relations, Mr. Jermaine Sanwo-Olu, hailed the initiative as a “groundbreaking innovation” in Africa’s health insurance landscape. He said Nigerians abroad have welcomed the Waka-Well and Home Konnect plans, which he said address key gaps in diaspora healthcare support.
Jermaine explained that the Waka-Well plan specifically targets diasporans and visitors returning for festive seasons such as “Detty December,” providing immediate and affordable medical cover. The Home Konnect plan, he added, offers a sustainable structure for Nigerians abroad to pay for the healthcare of their loved ones in Lagos.
Giving a technical breakdown of the packages, LASHMA’s Head of Business Development, Mr. Rotimi Olatunji, revealed that the Waka-Well plan covers basic illnesses common among travellers, including malaria, typhoid and diarrhoea. It also includes diagnostics, emergency care, telemedicine, dental and eye care, and ambulance services. The plan costs ₦45,000 for a 90-day stay and ₦75,000 for extended stays or multiple trips.
He identified tourists, charity workers, researchers, sports groups and cultural delegations as major targets. He said over 550,000 Nigerians arrived through the Lagos airport by mid-November 2024, spending more than ₦350 billion, adding that the new plan will make the holiday season a “healthy December.”
On the Home Konnect plan, he said it covers general and specialist consultations, physiotherapy, chronic disease management, surgeries, maternal care, newborn services and wellness screenings serving a potential market of more than 20 million Nigerians abroad.
Partners, including Mr. Akande Ojo, CEO of Pinnacle Global Business Services, and Dr. Elizabeth Onifade, Board Chairman of Nomad Doc Limited, praised LASHMA for its vision and pledged full support in global marketing, technology integration and service optimisation.
The event also provided a platform for media practitioners to seek clarifications on premium structures, implementation timelines and the network of accredited providers. LASHMA pledged full documentation for journalists.
With the unveiling of the diaspora plans, LASHMA concluded its final media parley for 2025. Dr. Zamba expressed optimism about 2026, saying the Agency will continue rolling out strategies aimed at boosting enrolment and deepening health insurance culture across all demographics.
She thanked journalists, partners and enrollees for their support and reaffirmed LASHMA’s commitment to delivering accessible, affordable and quality healthcare under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration
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