LAGOS, Nigeria – In a move to support maternal healthcare and improve hospital infrastructure, the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC) has renovated a portable cabin into a fully functional maternity ward at Ebute Metta General Hospital, Yaba.
This intervention, part of LSDPC’s corporate social responsibility (CSR), was officially handed over during a brief ceremony attended by key officials from the health sector and the Lagos State Government.
The Medical Director of Ebute Metta General Hospital, Dr Irewole Ojo, expressed deep gratitude to LSDPC for responding to the hospital’s pressing needs. According to her, the hospital has a maternity unit, but it had long been unsuitable in terms of accessibility, space, and modern utility.
She explained that the idea of transforming a portable cabin into a maternity ward was inspired by her personal observation of the LSDPC-built portal cabins stationed near the Third Mainland Bridge. Impressed by the structure’s design and build quality, she reached out to the corporation for a possible partnership.
“I saw the kind of portable cabins LSDPC constructed and thought, ‘Why not? If they can build this near the bridge, then we can ask them to help us replicate this model for our maternity unit,’” she said.
Ojo added that the successful completion of the cabin renovation showed LSDPC’s professionalism, resource coordination, and engineering expertise, which made the project possible within a short time.
Also speaking at the handover, Commissioner III at the Lagos State Health Service Commission, Dr Moyosore Adejumo, praised the project, noting that it would improve access to quality maternal and child healthcare for residents around the Ebute Metta and Lagos Mainland areas.
She called for further investment in hospital infrastructure across Lagos, stressing the importance of sustainable health systems, especially for pregnant women, newborns, and children.
“Health is a basic need, and government alone cannot do it all. We need more of these types of interventions to strengthen our public healthcare system and reduce maternal and infant mortality,” she said.
Ayodeji Joseph, the Managing Director of LSDPC, noted that the initiative aligned with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s vision for better healthcare access in Lagos. He reaffirmed LSDPC’s commitment to community-focused development through strategic infrastructure contributions.
“We are not stopping here. LSDPC will fully equip this maternity ward with the right facilities, making sure it delivers effective and safe maternal care,” he said.
The cabin-turned-maternity centre now offers more comfortable and accessible space for pregnant women, especially in cases of emergency or routine care. This comes as part of broader efforts by LSDPC to improve public facilities and ensure social impact beyond housing development.
The event was also attended by Dr Adedeji Adejumo, the Medical Director of Mainland Hospital, along with Prince Adeniyi Aromolaran, LSDPC’s Executive Director of Enterprise Services, and other representatives from both LSDPC and Ebute Metta General Hospital.
While the gesture was praised by all speakers, they also called on both government and private organisations to follow LSDPC’s example by partnering with public hospitals to bridge infrastructure gaps, especially in low-income and high-density communities.
The Ebute Metta General Hospital is one of several public hospitals in Lagos serving thousands of patients monthly. Though it has seen years of service, many parts of the facility require comprehensive upgrades, which Dr Ojo hopes the government and stakeholders will soon prioritise.
“This is a great step, but we are also looking forward to a more permanent and extensive renovation of the entire hospital structure. We remain optimistic,” she said.
The newly delivered maternity unit is expected to be open to the public within weeks, after the final furnishing and equipment installation by LSDPC.
