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Death of pregnant woman denied hospital care worries Lagos govt

Published

2 weeks ago

April 6, 2025

Late Mrs. Folajimi and husband

Death of pregnant woman denied hospital care worries Lagos govt

The Lagos State Government has launched an investigation into the tragic death of a pregnant woman identified simply as Mrs. Folajimi, who reportedly lost her life after being denied medical care at a private healthcare facility in Lakowe, Ibeju-Lekki, due to her inability to make a financial deposit.

The incident, which has sparked widespread outrage and raised concerns over healthcare access, allegedly involved both a traditional birth attendant and a private hospital.

Initial findings suggest that Mrs. Folajimi was turned away despite being in critical condition, a decision that may have cost her life.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, expressed deep sorrow over the loss and extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family on behalf of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the entire health sector.

“No one should die during childbirth,” Abayomi stated, adding that the government is committed to uncovering the facts behind the incident and ensuring justice for the late Folajimi and her family.

A joint panel comprising officials from the Lagos State Ministry of Health and the Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) has been set up to investigate the circumstances leading to the woman’s death.

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The probe will examine the registration status of the facilities and individuals involved, their compliance with medical regulations, and any potential breaches of emergency care protocols.

The government reiterated that all health facilities in Lagos—whether public or private—are mandated to offer emergency care without delay or discrimination. Denying treatment in life-threatening situations due to lack of deposit, the Commissioner emphasized, is a gross violation of medical ethics and regulatory obligations.

Abayomi stressed that healthcare providers operating outside the bounds of the law would face serious consequences.

In an effort to prevent similar tragedies, the Lagos State Government also vowed to tighten regulations and oversight on nursing homes and Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs). Residents were urged to seek medical attention only from HEFAMAA-approved institutions and to report any facility practicing beyond its accredited scope.

“The Lagos State Government has reiterated that all healthcare facilities, public or private, must comply with HEFAMAA regulations, including accreditation and regular inspections. The government maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy towards facilities that operate illegally or fail to provide necessary emergency care, as such failures constitute a breach of medical ethics.

“We also wish to reiterate that no healthcare facility is permitted to deny emergency care to any patient, especially in life-threatening situations. It is a breach of medical ethics and regulatory obligations, and such acts will be met with strict penalties. We are also using this opportunity to reiterate the government’s position in enforcing compliance and regulation of nursing homes and Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) as a holistic strategy to strengthen the healthcare system.

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“The public is encouraged to report any healthcare facility that is not registered with HEFAMAA or is practicing beyond its accredited capacity, emphasising the importance of using government-approved institutions for medical care. To enhance oversight, the government is intensifying monitoring efforts across all health establishments, ensuring they adhere to quality and safety standards,” Abayomi stated,.

Community leaders, religious organizations, and healthcare professionals have also been called upon to collaborate with the government in promoting maternal and child health across the state.

“The Lagos State Government calls on community leaders, religious organizations, and healthcare professionals to collaborate in promoting maternal and child health. The government is committed to justice for Mrs. Folajimi and her family, assuring that accountability for negligence and breach of duty will be pursued vigorously.

“In conclusion, the Lagos State Government extends its condolences to the Folajimi family and reaffirms its dedication to preventing similar tragedies in the future while fostering a safer healthcare environment for all residents,” Abayomi added.

Death of pregnant woman denied hospital care worries Lagos govt

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FG secures release of 6 women arrested for human trafficking in Cape Verde

Published

9 hours ago

April 17, 2025

Trends Admin

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar

FG secures release of 6 women arrested for human trafficking in Cape Verde

The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has successfully secured the release of six Nigerian women who were wrongfully detained in Cape Verde over baseless trafficking accusations.

Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, the spokesperson of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, revealed via a statement on Wednesday, April 16 that the Nigerian Mission in Guinea Bissau worked closely with the Cape Verdean authorities to ensure the women’s release.

She noted that the women had travelled to Cape Verde for vacation but were unfortunately arrested on unfounded human trafficking charges, which were eventually proven to be false.

Ebienfa mentioned that the minister expressed his satisfaction with the successful resolution of the matter and reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the rights and well-being of Nigerians abroad.

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The statement read, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to happily inform you that the Nigerian ladies who were detained in Cape Verde have all been released and have left the country, too.

“The Ministry engaged Cape Verde authorities via our Mission in Guinea Bissau to secure their release.

“The six ladies travelled to Cape Verde for a holiday and were unfortunately detained on allegations of trafficking, which turned out to be false.”

FG secures release of 6 women arrested for human trafficking in Cape Verde

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Bayelsa lawmaker, Wike’s ally exchange blows amid tension over scheduled event [VIDEO]

Published

10 hours ago

April 17, 2025

Trends Admin

Bayelsa lawmaker, Wike’s ally exchange blows amid tension over scheduled event [VIDEO]

A lawmaker in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly and an ally of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike were captured engaging in a fight.

In a video circulating on social media, the Chief Whip of the Assembly, Hon. Gabriel Ogbara, was seen engaging in a heated struggle with the Ogbia Ward 8 Coordinator of the pro-Wike political group, the NEW Associates.

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The footage was posted by George Turnah, a known supporter of Wike and a former legal adviser to the PDP in the South-South zone.

Turnah, who was recently suspended by the Bayelsa PDP, has been at loggerheads with Governor Douye Diri over plans to organize a rally in Yenagoa in support of Wike. The event is scheduled for Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Despite both Diri and Wike belonging to the PDP, the two powerbrokers have been locked in a quiet political rivalry, particularly over control of the party’s structure in the South-South. Governor Diri currently chairs the South-South Governors’ Forum.

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Bayelsa lawmaker, Wike’s ally exchange blows amid tension over scheduled event [VIDEO]

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How Obasanjo, Jonathan, Buhari paid lip service to power sector – Minister

Published

10 hours ago

April 17, 2025

Trends Admin

Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu

How Obasanjo, Jonathan, Buhari paid lip service to power sector – Minister

Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has blamed previous Nigerian presidents and leaders for the lingering crisis in the country’s power sector.

Speaking while receiving a World Bank delegation in his Abuja office, Adelabu said successive administrations failed to take decisive action, leading to the degeneration currently plaguing power generation, transmission, and distribution.

He, however, expressed optimism under the current administration, noting that President Bola Tinubu has shown genuine concern and given total support toward reforms aimed at revamping the power sector.

“We actually have a past that we are not proud of. Over the years, we have only been paying lip service to transforming the power sector but have not worked the talk.

“Previous administrations have kept on doing the same thing all the time and you cannot get different results for that, which is why we have decided to do things differently this time. In all the segments across the sector, we must run away from the past,” Adelabu said in the statement by Bolaji Tunji, his special adviser on strategic communications and media relations.

He said the neglect of critical power infrastructure over the years, “including thousands of kilometres of transmission lines and hundreds of thousands of transformers”, has deepened the challenges in the sector.

“How will you explain the kind of infrastructure that we put together for our transmission network across the country? Thousands of kilometers of power line, thousands of power transformers, hundreds of thousands of distribution transformers that we have not maintained over time and expect them to keep sustaining our energy supply. It is not possible,” Adelabu said.

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“How do we allow our people to be vandalising infrastructure and expect stable electricity? So how do you have a sector with over 12 million customers and our meter is not more than six million and we expect to have a stable industry? No, it’s not possible. So what has happened with past governments?

“In 1984, when the military was in power here, we achieved a 2000 megawatts. Between 1984 and 2023, it took us 40 years to add additional 2000 megawatts. Now we have an average of 5,800 megawatts generation within one and a half years that we came to the office.

“What I’m saying is that, if the past administrations have been adding things like this, we will not be where we are today. And that is why I said that President Tinubu is actually laying the kind of foundation that we need for our country to grow”, he added.

He blamed the Muhammadu Buhari administration for stalling on the Siemens power deal signed in 2019.

“We entered into the Siemens contract in 2019. We never lifted a finger until 2023, when this government came on board. So you can now imagine since this President came in and now look at the mileage we have achieved,” he said.

The minister, however, noted that the pilot phase of the Siemens power project is nearly complete in under two years, expressing confidence in a brighter future for the power sector.

The minister implored the World Bank team to continue to support the Tinubu’s administration to ensure that the investment of the current administration succeeds.

“One thing that this administration has brought to the table is the seriousness, the determination, the commitment to make sure that the power sector is transformed.

“There is very little you can achieve in your agriculture sector, in your transportation sector, in your defense, education, or health; without stable and efficient electricity supply.

“That is why the President is really focusing on this, and he is supporting whatever we need to do to make sure that we transform this sector. He is ready to give us that support”, he noted.