A private hospital in Osun State has come under public attention following reports that it is detaining a newborn baby over an unpaid medical bill estimated at N700,000. The incident has generated public concern and renewed discussions about patients’ rights and medical ethics in Nigeria.

The case involves a young mother who reportedly experienced serious medical complications during childbirth, leading to extended hospital care for both her and the baby. After treatment was completed and the newborn was declared medically stable, the hospital allegedly refused to discharge the child, insisting that the outstanding bill must be settled first.

Sources say the family has already paid a significant amount for medical services but has been unable to raise the remaining balance due to financial hardship.

Relatives of the mother have appealed for understanding, stating that the continued stay of the newborn in the hospital has placed emotional and psychological strain on the family.

The hospital management is reported to have justified its position by pointing to past experiences where patients left without paying their medical bills. According to the management, unpaid debts affect the hospital’s ability to operate and provide services to other patients.

The situation has attracted criticism from members of the public and human rights advocates, who argue that holding patients, particularly newborns, over unpaid bills is unethical and contrary to basic human rights principles. Some legal observers have also suggested that such actions may conflict with existing laws and professional medical standards.

As public reaction continues to grow, there have been calls for the Osun State Government and relevant health authorities to step in, facilitate the release of the newborn, and address systemic issues that allow such incidents to occur.

The case has once again drawn attention to the broader challenges facing Nigeria’s healthcare system, especially the financial burden on families and limited access to affordable healthcare.

The federal government has temporarily opened a section of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway for vehicular movement.

The 47-kilometre stretch runs from the Ahmadu Bello Way junction in Victoria Island to the Eleko junction.

The road was temporarily opened on Friday after a ceremony attended by David Umahi, minister of works; Gbolahan Lawal, Oniru of Iruland; Barinada Mpigi, the chairman of senate committee on works; Dany Abboud, managing director of Hitech construction company; Oluwaseun Osiyemi, Lagos commissioner for transportation; and officials of the ministry of works.

Olufemi Dare, federal controller of works in Lagos, said the government decided to temporarily open the section to ease traffic congestion during the Yuletide season.

Dare said the 47km section of the Lagos-Calabar coastal road was awarded to Hitech construction company for N1,067,887,381,148.61.

He said the contract sum covered the “construction of rigid pavement dual-carriage highway with accompanying drainages and culverts, median barriers, street lightings, and the relocation of public utilities like electric cables, poles, cable ducts, gas and water pipelines as required”.

“The stretch of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway that falls entirely within the Lagos State border is 103km in length,” he said.

“Up till date, a total of 30km of continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) has been completed, while sand filling has been completed on the remaining 17.474km, and the whole stretch of 47.474km is thus motorable.

“The total stretch in section 1 is projected to be completed before the end of the second quarter of 2026.”

Speaking during the ceremony, the works minister said it is untrue that the federal government is only concentrating on the Lagos-Calabar coastal road, adding that other projects are currently being executed.

He added that the federal government is ready to accept constructive criticism about the project.

The Association of Resident Doctors in the Federal Capital Territory Administration has commended the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, for the implementation of the union’s demands.

The President of ARD-FCTA, Dr. George Ebong, commended the minister during an outreach at Durumi Area 1 Internally Displaced Persons Camp.

He said despite numerous challenges for doctors in the FCT, the minister has been able to implement some of the demands, and urged the FCTA to quickly implement the outstanding issues.

Ebong said the association is committed to providing free healthcare services to IDPs as their major duty is to save lives.

“We decided to come to the IDP camp with some drugs, and that’s why we are here.

“We are grateful for every implementation of our demands. Yes, there are fewer times that are still there, but we believe that the Minister will see to that,” he told Ekwutosblog in an interview.

Recall that the FCT doctors had embarked on several strike actions to press home their demands, including improved welfare.

ARD-FCTA suspended its latest strike recently pending full implementation of outstanding demands by the FCTA.