Man Dies Trying to Rescue Toddler Who Fell Into Well in Lagos

A man has died while attempting to rescue a toddler who fell into a domestic well in Abule Egba, Lagos State, while efforts to recover the child’s body were eventually called off after a difficult search operation.

The incident occurred on Tuesday, October 20, at No. 4, Paul Street, inward Agbe Road, where the toddler, whose mother worked as a cleaner in the compound, reportedly fell into the well.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said it received a distress call at 9:48 a.m. and immediately deployed its response team from the Igando Base.

According to a statement signed by the agency’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, a member of the Hausa community in the area entered the well in an attempt to save the child but became trapped and was later recovered dead.

LASEMA, working with the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps and the Nigeria Police Force, launched a coordinated rescue operation despite the difficult conditions inside the well.

The agency said the rescuer’s remains were handed over to his relatives and members of the Hausa community for burial in line with their customs.

However, attempts to recover the toddler were unsuccessful because of the high water level and thick mud at the bottom of the well. Dewatering operations proved challenging, leading responders to bring in a specialist local diver for a final search.

According to LASEMA, the diver determined that the child’s body had sunk deep into the mud and could not be retrieved. Only one of the toddler’s shoes was recovered during the operation.

Following an expert assessment and consultations with the family and community leaders, the agency announced the conclusion of the search, with all emergency responders returning to their bases.

Oke-Osanyintolu expressed condolences to the affected families and the Hausa community, while acknowledging the man’s courage in risking his life in an attempt to save the toddler.

The Lagos State Government, under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, also extended its condolences to the bereaved families.

LASEMA urged residents to ensure that wells and other openings within residential premises are properly covered, raised and secured, particularly in homes where young children live.

The agency also advised residents to contact emergency responders through its toll-free numbers, 767 and 112, rather than attempt dangerous rescue operations that could result in further casualties.

Sanwo-Olu Urges Youth Participation, Skill Development at Seyi Tinubu’s 41st Birthday Colloquium

Babajide Sanwo-Olu calls on young Nigerians to develop their skills, participate in governance and contribute to community development.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has urged young Nigerians to participate actively in governance, acquire valuable skills and contribute to national development, saying the future depends on collective effort and long-term planning.

Sanwo-Olu made the call while speaking at the 41st birthday colloquium of Seyi Tinubu, whom he described as the Okanlomo of Yorubaland.

In a post on X, the governor commended Seyi Tinubu for bringing young Nigerians together to discuss the country’s future, stressing the importance of creating opportunities for young people to thrive.

Using Lagos’ Blue Line rail project as an example, Sanwo-Olu noted that the project was first conceived in 1983 but became operational decades later, highlighting how major development initiatives can span successive administrations.

He said the experience demonstrated the importance of starting projects that future leaders can complete and build upon.

The governor also reflected on his professional journey from surveying to banking and public service, explaining that effective leadership requires understanding existing conditions before implementing development plans.

According to him, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu gave young professionals the opportunity to contribute to governance, debate ideas and develop their leadership capacity when he brought them into government.

Addressing young Nigerians, Sanwo-Olu encouraged them to obtain their Permanent Voter’s Cards, attend community and ward meetings, participate in budget hearings and take an active role in decisions affecting their lives.

He also advised young people to develop expertise in their chosen fields, emphasising that sustained effort and practical skills could help them establish themselves professionally.

The governor further encouraged Nigerians living or studying abroad to maintain connections with their home communities and apply the knowledge and experience they acquire to local development.

Sanwo-Olu called on older generations to mentor young people, create employment opportunities for emerging talent and make room for younger leaders to assume greater responsibilities.

As he prepares to leave office in the coming months, the governor said his hope was to complete ongoing initiatives, begin projects that future administrations could continue and leave a strong foundation for subsequent generations.

‘Lagos Traffic Is Not the Problem, It’s a Lifestyle’ — APC Governorship Candidate Hamzat Says

Lagos State Deputy Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the 2027 election, Obafemi Hamzat, has described the city’s perennial traffic congestion as a “lifestyle”, saying the experience has also contributed to the growth of Lagos’ creative industry.

Hamzat made the remarks on Friday while speaking at PODFEST Naija, a gathering of podcasters, storytellers and other creatives in Lagos.

Reflecting on the city’s traffic, crowds and fast-paced environment, Hamzat said the experiences had become part of Lagos’ identity and had also created an audience for content creators.

“Anyone who has crossed Third Mainland Bridge at 6pm knows that Lagos traffic is not the problem, it is just a lifestyle,” Hamzat said.

He said many Lagos residents consume podcasts, music and other forms of entertainment while commuting through some of the city’s busiest routes.

“In fact, I suspect that many of us in this room, we produce things that are consumed, episode by episode, between Ojota and Obalende,” he said.

“So in a way, traffic has been a patron of your industry. So you must celebrate traffic. That’s why we are Lagos.”

Hamzat also said Lagos’ distinctive character had provided inspiration for artists, writers, filmmakers and other creatives.

He noted that the city was increasingly telling its own story through its creative community, including podcasters, filmmakers, musicians, writers, designers, developers and entrepreneurs.

The deputy governor also urged creatives to develop sustainable business models, arguing that having a large audience does not automatically translate into a viable business.

“A podcast with a million listeners and no business model is just a hobby with good microphone,” he said.

Hamzat said the Lagos State Government was supporting ideas and research within the creative and innovation ecosystem, claiming that the state was funding at least 90 research and development projects.

“Gone are the years of great ideas and no funding,” he said.

He also linked safety and liberty to creativity, saying people are more able to create and tell stories when they feel secure.

Hamzat said Lagos was currently the safest state in Nigeria, adding that maintaining security comes at a significant cost. That statement was presented as his assessment during the event.

“Creativity flourishes best when people feel safe,” he said.

“For us in Lagos, safety and liberty guarantees remain a matter of right.”

The APC governorship candidate also urged Nigerians to reconnect with their cultural identity, arguing that culture remains important to the country’s development.

“One of the challenges for us as Africans, as black people, is that we have forgotten our culture,” he said.

“The truth is, we will not prosper — it’s not a curse — if we don’t deal with our culture.”

Hamzat’s comments come as he prepares for the 2027 Lagos governorship election, where he will represent the APC alongside deputy governorship candidate Damilola Sonayon-James.

LASTMA Warns Children, Teenagers Against Using Roller Skate Shoes on Public Roads

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has cautioned children, teenagers and young adults against using rolling skate shoes, wheeled footwear and similar recreational devices on public highways and other vehicular corridors.

The warning was issued by the authority over concerns that using footwear fitted with concealed or retractable wheels on roads could expose users to traffic-related dangers.

According to LASTMA, some users attempt to glide alongside moving vehicles, cross carriageways indiscriminately or manoeuvre through traffic without adequate protective equipment and adult supervision.

The authority noted that public roads are shared by motorists, motorcyclists, pedestrians and other road users, making them unsuitable for recreational activities involving wheeled devices.

LASTMA advised parents, guardians, schools and caregivers to discourage children and other vulnerable road users from using rolling skate shoes on highways, expressways, bridges, service lanes and other areas where vehicular traffic is permitted.

It urged users of such footwear to restrict skating activities to designated recreational areas, private compounds and other safe environments suitable for the activity.

The authority also recommended the use of protective equipment, including helmets, knee pads and elbow pads, when engaging in skating activities.

LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, described road safety as a collective responsibility requiring vigilance, discipline and respect for the risks associated with public roads.

He stressed that the protection of human life should remain a priority and that recreational activities should not expose individuals or other road users to unnecessary danger.

LASTMA also urged motorists to exercise caution around children and young people using wheeled footwear, particularly in residential areas, estates and school zones where they may unexpectedly enter traffic.

The authority asked members of the public to report dangerous traffic situations, road obstructions, crashes, vehicle breakdowns and other incidents requiring traffic-management intervention through its toll-free short code, 3367.

LASTMA said it remains committed to promoting responsible road-user behaviour and improving road safety across Lagos State.

The statement was signed by Adebayo Taofiq, Director of the Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA.

Lagos Orders 160 New Waste Compactors as Governor Moves to Address Collection Delays

The Lagos State Governor inspected waste management operations at the Olusosun dumpsite as the government announced measures to address collection delays.

 Lagos State Governor has announced measures aimed at addressing recent waste collection delays across the state, following an inspection of waste management operations at the Olusosun dumpsite.

The governor acknowledged growing concerns over the accumulation of waste in parts of Lagos, describing the situation as unacceptable and saying the government was taking direct action to address the challenges.

According to the governor, the state is currently levelling and expanding access roads at its five major dumpsites to enable waste trucks to discharge and turn around more efficiently.

The government has also ordered 160 new compactors to strengthen the state’s waste collection fleet, while development partners are expected to provide additional heavy-duty equipment.

The governor said the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) is also being restructured to strengthen oversight of waste management operations across the state.

He added that the government was working with Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators to improve their operations and ensure that only capable and committed teams remain involved in waste collection across Lagos.

Looking beyond the immediate challenges, the governor announced plans to construct two major Transfer Loading Stations at Olusosun and Solous 3.

He also said Material Recovery Facilities would be developed in Epe and Badagry as part of efforts to modernise waste sorting and recycling in the state.

“These measures are aimed at fixing the system from the ground up,” the governor said, while stressing that keeping Lagos clean would also require cooperation from residents.

He warned against indiscriminate dumping of waste on streets, saying environmental enforcement officers would arrest and prosecute offenders.

“We are on it and you will see the difference soon,” the governor said.

Lagos Surpasses Global Exclusive Breastfeeding Target, Seeks Earlier Breastfeeding for Newborns

Lagos State says it has exceeded the global exclusive breastfeeding target while seeking to improve early breastfeeding initiation.

The Lagos State Government says it has exceeded the global target for exclusive breastfeeding, recording a rate of 57.4 per cent, while pledging renewed efforts to improve the number of babies breastfed within the first hour after birth.

The milestone was announced on Tuesday during a press briefing at the Lagos State Ministry of Health in Alausa as part of activities marking the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week.

Speaking at the event, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, said the state’s exclusive breastfeeding rate now exceeds the World Health Organization’s benchmark of 50 per cent. However, she noted that only 14 per cent of newborns in Lagos are breastfed within the first hour of delivery, a figure the government hopes to significantly improve.

According to Ogunyemi, breastfeeding remains one of the most effective and affordable ways to improve child survival, reduce infant illnesses and ensure healthy development during the early stages of life.

She explained that exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, followed by continued breastfeeding alongside appropriate complementary feeding until the age of two, provides infants with the nutrients needed for healthy physical growth, brain development and stronger immunity.

“The importance of breastfeeding as a child survival strategy cannot be overemphasised. Breast milk is free, nutrient-rich, readily available and contributes to healthier children while strengthening the bond between mother and child,” she said.

This year’s World Breastfeeding Week is being observed under the theme “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,” with global attention focused on expanding proven breastfeeding practices that improve maternal and child health.

Ogunyemi described the theme as particularly relevant given Nigeria’s current economic realities, noting that breastfeeding offers families a cost-effective and sustainable means of ensuring adequate nutrition for infants without relying heavily on expensive formula feeding.

She urged husbands, grandparents, employers, religious leaders, healthcare workers and community members to actively support nursing mothers, stressing that successful breastfeeding depends not only on mothers but also on the support system around them.

The Special Adviser disclosed that Lagos has continued to strengthen its Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) programme through regular training of healthcare workers, breastfeeding counselling, nutrition education and enforcement of regulations governing the marketing of breast-milk substitutes.

According to her, the programme is currently being implemented across all 334 Primary Health Centres, 29 secondary health facilities and the state’s tertiary healthcare institution, supported by an effective referral system.

She expressed concern over persistent misconceptions surrounding colostrum, the thick yellowish breast milk produced immediately after childbirth, explaining that many mothers still wrongly believe it should be discarded despite its proven health benefits.

Colostrum contains antibodies and nutrients that help protect newborns from infections during the first days of life and is widely regarded by health experts as a baby’s first natural vaccine.

To address the low rate of early breastfeeding initiation, Ogunyemi said the state is intensifying the training of midwives and healthcare professionals in both public and private hospitals to ensure mothers begin breastfeeding within the first hour after delivery.

Responding to questions from journalists, she also dismissed the widespread belief that mothers who undergo caesarean section deliveries cannot breastfeed immediately.

“A caesarean section is not a barrier to breastfeeding. Whether a mother delivers vaginally or through surgery, breastfeeding should begin as soon as possible, ideally within the first hour after birth,” she said.

Health experts say improving early initiation of breastfeeding remains critical to reducing neonatal deaths and strengthening child survival outcomes across Nigeria.

The Lagos State Government reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining breastfeeding awareness campaigns and expanding access to maternal nutrition services as part of broader efforts to improve public health indicators across the state.