A Lagos resident, Muhammad Armayau, has praised the state’s emergency response team for helping save the life of his seven-month-old daughter after she developed a high fever during a heavy rainfall in Badagry.
Armayau recounted the incident to journalists, explaining that his daughter’s condition worsened in the middle of the night, leaving the family unable to secure transportation to a hospital due to the downpour.
According to him, the child had been battling an elevated temperature for two days before the situation became critical.
“My seven-month-old daughter developed a high fever after battling an elevated temperature for two days. When the thermometer read 38.5°C, panic set in,” he said.
With no means of transportation available, Armayau said he and his wife attempted to manage the fever while waiting for the rain to ease before contacting the Lagos State emergency toll-free line, 112.
He explained that after receiving the call at about 4:07 a.m., emergency officials immediately obtained his location details and began coordinating assistance.
Approximately 20 minutes later, he received a follow-up call confirming that an ambulance had been dispatched to the area. By 5:07 a.m., another call informed him that the ambulance was waiting at Checkpoint Bus Stop, where the family met the medical team.
Following an assessment of the child’s condition, the emergency personnel advised that she be taken to General Hospital, Badagry, as the nearest primary healthcare facility was not operating on a 24-hour basis.
Armayau noted that the ambulance was unable to reach his residence because flooding and poor road conditions had rendered the Ibiye–Checkpoint–Magbon road difficult to access.
He described the response as remarkable, noting that the ambulance travelled approximately 24 kilometres from General Hospital, Badagry, to attend to the emergency.
At the hospital, the child received immediate medical attention. Armayau said he paid ₦2,000 for registration, ₦8,000 for laboratory tests and about ₦4,000 for medication, adding that there were no consultation or ambulance charges.
He also commended the cleanliness of the hospital and the professionalism of healthcare workers on duty.
While expressing gratitude to the emergency responders and medical personnel, Armayau appealed to the Lagos State Government to rehabilitate the Ibiye–Checkpoint–Magbon road, increase the number of doctors at General Hospital, Badagry, and upgrade the Ilepo Primary Health Centre to operate round the clock.
He further called for improved electricity supply and the development of a unified electronic medical records system across government health facilities.
Describing the experience as one he previously associated with developed countries, Armayau said the swift response demonstrated the value of efficient public services and their impact on saving lives.
