Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved a large-scale expansion of medical training facilities, including the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), to address the acute shortage of healthcare professionals in the state.
As part of the initiative, the government has handed over key medical infrastructure to contractors for conversion into modern academic facilities.
These include the transformation of the CACOVID Isolation Centre at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) into large lecture theatres and multi-disciplinary laboratories, as well as the conversion of the Cardio-Renal Centre at Gbagada General Hospital into academic offices and tutorial rooms.
The project aims to increase student admissions in critical medical fields such as medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, and allied health professions, to scale up annual student intake from 200 to 2,500 within the next five years.
Speaking at the official handover, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, emphasised that the expansion is a direct response to the severe shortage of healthcare personnel, particularly doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and laboratory scientists.
He noted that Lagos currently faces a deficit of 30,000 doctors, making immediate intervention necessary.
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“The government, under Governor Sanwo-Olu’s leadership, has approved a phased expansion of infrastructure to support increased student enrollment in medical and health sciences. This is a crucial step in addressing our human resource gap in the healthcare sector,” Abayomi stated.
He outlined two key approaches to solving the crisis: increasing the number of trained professionals and ensuring that their education meets accreditation standards.
“Medical training goes beyond classrooms—it requires access to well-equipped laboratories, experienced academic staff, and clinical exposure. This expansion plan ensures all these elements are in place,” he added.
The commissioner also highlighted that the initiative will provide 1,600 additional lecture theatre seats, 1,600 new laboratory spaces, and 110 offices for academic staff.
The Lagos State Infrastructure Asset Management Agency (LASIAMA) has been tasked with overseeing the project’s execution to ensure adherence to high construction standards.
Lagos State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Hon. Tolani Sule, commended the project as a strategic solution to the healthcare workforce shortage.
“Lagos has limited land space, so we must maximize existing infrastructure. This repurposing of underutilized assets is a game-changer for medical education in the state,” he said.
He reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to improving health education, noting that Governor Sanwo-Olu and Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat have consistently supported policies that enhance medical training institutions and hospitals.
Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, emphasised the importance of the expansion in meeting accreditation requirements.
“The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and the Nursing Council require adequate infrastructure before granting full accreditation. This project ensures we meet those standards,” she explained.
She noted that LASUCOM was originally designed for only 50 students per cohort, making the expansion a necessary step for sustainability.
“With today’s handover, we are well-positioned to meet MDCN and NUC requirements, allowing us to train more professionals to serve Lagos and beyond,” she added.
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Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, Chief Medical Director of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), described the project as a long-overdue solution to Lagos’ healthcare demands.
“LASUTH plays a key role in training medical students and postgraduate doctors. This expansion will ease the burden on our facilities and create an improved learning environment,” he said.
Adenike Adekanbi, General Manager of LASIAMA, assured that high construction standards would be maintained.
“We have engaged top-tier contractors and will rigorously monitor progress to ensure world-class academic facilities are delivered on schedule,” she stated.
This expansion marks a significant milestone in Lagos State’s efforts to strengthen its healthcare workforce.
