Lagos: A Safe and Healthy Homecoming This December

As the festive season approaches, Lagos, the vibrant heartbeat of Africa once again beckons its global sons and daughters home. For members of the Nigerian diaspora, December in Lagos represents reunion, celebration, culture, and a renewed connection to home. More than ever before, it also represents confidence in safety, systems, and quality of life.

One concern that has traditionally accompanied travel home is access to quality healthcare, but this is steadily becoming a thing of the past. Through deliberate planning and sustained investment, Lagos has evolved into a modern metropolis equipped with reliable, accessible, and increasingly world-class healthcare services. Under the leadership of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Lagos State Government has prioritised healthcare reform as a core pillar of its development agenda, strengthening systems that allow residents and visitors alike to enjoy the city with confidence and peace of mind.

As Lagos positions itself as a premier December destination for the global diaspora, a dependable healthcare system stands firmly as part of that promise, ensuring that your homecoming is defined by celebration, not concern.

A Reimagined Health Sector: Government-Led Transformation

Since 2019, the Lagos State Government has pursued a deliberate and structured transformation of the health sector, driven by a focus on accessibility, innovation, quality, and sustainability. Significant investments have been made in healthcare infrastructure, digital health systems, emergency response, and service delivery across the state.

A major innovation is the Lagos State Smart Health Information Platform (SHIP) - a digital ecosystem designed to integrate patient records, streamline referrals, and enhance coordination across public health facilities. SHIP is addressing long-standing challenges such as delays in admissions and fragmented care, improving efficiency and continuity of treatment.

Complementing this effort is the work of the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), which continues to expand health insurance coverage through various schemes that cater to residents, visitors, and members of the diaspora. These initiatives make quality healthcare more affordable, predictable, and accessible, even for short-term visitors.

Regulatory oversight has also been strengthened. Through the Lagos State Ministry of Health and the Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA), both public and private health facilities are routinely monitored and accredited to ensure compliance with safety, infrastructure, and service standards.

Beyond clinical care, the State continues to invest in public health initiatives including disease surveillance, sanitation improvements, emergency preparedness, and partnerships with local and international institutions, efforts that are steadily translating into improved outcomes and greater public confidence.

Accessible Care Across the City

Accessibility remains a key advantage of healthcare delivery in Lagos. Major hospitals and medical centres are strategically located across districts such as Ikeja, Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Lekki, and Lagos Mainland. These facilities are well connected through BRT corridors, ride-hailing services, and the expanding urban rail network, ensuring that quality medical care is never far away, whether for residents or visiting members of the diaspora.

World-Class Facilities: Private Excellence and Public Commitment

Lagos is home to a broad mix of internationally accredited private hospitals and revitalised public institutions, collectively delivering care that meets globally recognised standards.

Leading Private Healthcare Institutions

Notable private facilities contributing to Lagos’ healthcare excellence include:

• Reddington Multi-Specialist Hospital (Victoria Island) – COHSASA-accredited, offering advanced care in cardiology, orthopaedics, oncology, and surgery.

• Cedarcrest Hospitals – Renowned for orthopaedics, trauma, spine surgery, and advanced diagnostic imaging.

• Euracare Multispecialist Hospital (Victoria Island) – Providing personalised, multispecialty care aligned with international best practices.

• Duchess International Hospital (Ikeja) – Delivering comprehensive medical and emergency services in a modern, patient-centred environment.

• Iwosan Lagoon Hospitals (Ikoyi & Apapa) – A leading provider specialising in cardiology, paediatrics, and internal medicine.

• St. Nicholas Hospital (Lagos Island) – Internationally accredited for multispecialty and critical care services.

• Starcare International Hospital (Lekki), AB10 Specialist Hospital (Ogba), and Loveworld Medical Centre (Ikoyi) offer specialised services supported by modern technology and highly trained healthcare professionals

Government-Owned Pillars of Care

Public healthcare remains a cornerstone of Lagos’ inclusive health strategy:

• Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH, Ikeja) – A leading state-owned tertiary hospital providing comprehensive services, including 24-hour emergency care.

• Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba – A premier federal teaching hospital offering advanced care, training, and research.

• National Orthopaedic Hospital, Lagos Island – Specialising in bone, joint, and rehabilitation services.

• Federal Medical Centre, Ebute-Metta – Strengthening access to specialised services, including oncology.

Additionally, Lagos boasts a strong network of General Hospitals across the state including Isolo, Ifako-Ijaiye, and Gbagada, which form the backbone of secondary healthcare delivery. These facilities provide emergency, maternity, surgical, and outpatient services at affordable cost and are interconnected through the Smart Health Information Platform (SHIP), enabling seamless referrals, coordinated care, and shared clinical expertise.

Emergency Services: Ready, Reliable, Responsive

Lagos continues to strengthen its emergency response capacity through a coordinated framework led by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS). As the state’s central emergency response and disaster management agency, LASEMA provides strategic coordination, rapid deployment, and inter-agency collaboration, ensuring effective responses to accidents, medical emergencies, and disasters.

With an expanding fleet that includes Mobile ICUs, Mobile Clinics, and Transport Ambulances deployed across multiple response points, LASAMBUS delivers rapid medical assistance across the metropolis. Emergency support is accessible through the universal emergency number 112 and the USSD code 789189#, enabling timely intervention for both minor incidents and life-threatening emergencies. These services are further reinforced by 24-hour emergency departments in major public and private hospitals, supported by coordinated referral systems and robust regulatory oversight

Come Home with Confidence

Dear members of the diaspora, Lagos is not just calling you home, it is prepared to receive you. With strengthened healthcare systems, dependable emergency services, and a government committed to the well-being of all who live in and visit the state, your December stay can focus fully on family, culture, celebration, and reconnection.

This festive season, come home with confidence. Experience a Lagos that is safer, healthier, and more ready than ever to welcome you.

Lagos is ready. Home is ready.