Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
The Lagos State Government has rejected claims that officials of Randle General Hospital delayed treatment or attempted to extort money from a vulnerable patient, saying its investigation found that the woman received emergency medical care and financial assistance from the state.
The controversy followed a viral social media post by Kafayat Oshodi, who alleged that hospital officials demanded payment before treating her daughter, whom she identified as 13 years old and in urgent need of medical attention.
However, the Ministry of Health said its investigation established that the patient, Alimat Oshodi, is 21 years old and first presented at the hospital’s Mother and Child Centre on August 4, 2026, as an emergency case.
According to the ministry, Alimat received life-saving treatment under the Comprehensive Emergency Obstetrics and Newborn Care programme without payment and was discharged on August 11.
“The initial value of the emergency care provided was ₦75,950, free of charge,” the ministry said in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi.
The ministry said Alimat returned on August 27 for follow-up treatment and investigations. Its Social Welfare Unit subsequently provided ₦5,000 on August 28 and ₦13,000 on August 31 to support further investigations, while the patient contributed ₦10,000.
This brought the total assistance provided through the state’s support system to ₦93,950, according to the ministry.
On the disputed Point of Sale transaction, the government said Alimat requested a refund of the ₦13,000 paid through the Hospital Welfare Fund after an NGO offered to cover the cost. The ministry said she was informed that such payments could not be refunded at the Paypoint under existing procedures.
“She was informed that Social Welfare payments could not be refunded at the Paypoint in accordance with established procedure,” the ministry said.
Abayomi said the findings contradicted the impression created by the viral post that the government hospital had deliberately delayed treatment or sought to extort the patient, adding that mechanisms including Ilera Eko, hospital-based Social Welfare support and the emergency obstetrics programme were available to patients facing financial difficulties.
“This investigation has established the facts surrounding the incident and confirms that the State’s social health protection mechanisms work seamlessly and, in this case, provide timely support at no cost to the patient when she required emergency care to the tune of ₦93,950,” Abayomi said.
The ministry also said it was improving payment processes in public hospitals through the Smart Health Information Platform and regular audits of fee collection practices.
Separately, the Lagos State Sports Commission intervened after Oshodi raised concerns over her other daughter, Mariam, an U-15 squash player representing Lagos State, who missed a regional tournament after allegedly being unable to access her squash racket kept inside a shop reportedly locked by officials of Surulere Local Government.
The commission’s Director-General, Lekan Fatodu, met with Mariam and her mother on Wednesday and assured them that the commission would engage the relevant government authority to prevent a recurrence.
Fatodu also announced plans for stronger communication between the commission, parents and young athletes, alongside measures to ensure government agencies better protect and support emerging sporting talents.
