Economy
Lagos: Reduce Cost Of Blood, NMA Tells Sanwo-Olu
Lagos: Reduce Cost Of Blood, NMA Tells Sanwo-Olu
Lagos: Reduce cost of blood, NMA tells Sanwo-Olu. Mr Esegine said, “We were told that the government withdrew the subsidy on blood and that whatever subsidy there is cannot be extended to the private sector.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (ANPMP) have appealed to the Lagos State Government to develop mechanisms for reducing the unit cost of blood in the state.
The Lagos Chairman of NMA and ANPMP, Dr Babajide Saheed and Dr Jonathan Esegine, made the appeal in separate interviews on Saturday.
A circular dated November15, 2024, conveyed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s approval for an increase in the cost of blood screening for transfusion transmissible infections by private healthcare facilities.
The circular signed by Mrs Bukola Odoe, Special Adviser, to the Governor on Public-Private Partnership directed an increase in the cost of screening a pint of blood from N5,000 to N15,000 for the three existing private blood screening partners (Darlez, Banner & Solawunmi).
The circular further directed the Ministry of Health and the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service (LSBTS) to ensure that the new price regime takes effect on November 18, 2024.
Every unit of blood collected by registered blood banks must be sent to one of the LSBTS-established screening centres for mandatory testing.
The LSBTS uses automated systems to screen every unit of blood for transfusion-transmissible infections, including HIV type 1 and 2, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and syphilis, in line with international standards.
Consequently, members of the Blood Bank Society of Nigeria (BBSN), Lagos State Branch, held an online general meeting on November 17, 2024, during which they adjusted the prices for the issuance of blood to their customers.
According to them, the action was triggered by the state government’s sudden increase in the blood screening fee.
Thereafter, BBSN pricing for the issuance of blood saw a unit of positive blood rise from N25,000 to N60,000, while a unit of negative blood rose from N30,000 to N75,000.
Findings revealed that the unit cost of blood sells as high as N100,000 in some laboratories across the state.
One year after this development, Mr Saheed disclosed that many patients are suffering, struggling to survive and groaning under the new price regime, describing the unit cost of blood as ‘crazily expensive.’
Mr Saheed urged the government to regulate and subsidise the unit cost of blood, saying, “We cannot begin to commercialise and profit from an essential commodity like blood. He stated, “There are so many vulnerable members of society that depend on blood transfusions to stay alive at one time or the other. Most of these patients need multiple units of blood depending on their medical procedure.
“For example, a patient who requires three units of negative blood will spend over N200,000, this is minus the cost of the procedure and other expenses that may come up. Anything you are doing as a government, make it affordable and accessible so that every patient will be able to get it at the nearest place.
“The economy is having a biting effect on citizens. Many citizens are struggling to feed themselves, and those who are sick can barely afford their treatment costs. The government must show empathy in governance and policies.”
He further said that the high unit cost of blood would encourage commercialisation, lamenting that there was no regulation for controlling how blood is sourced in Lagos, especially financially induced donation.
“Blood is life. It should be given freely. We need to ask ourselves the questions, is it the bag, screening or the reagents that justify the sale of blood at N50,000 upward?” Saheed said.
Similarly, Mr Esegine disclosed that the association’s engagement with the government’s representative on the issue was unproductive.
Mr Esegine said, “We were told that the government withdrew the subsidy on blood and that whatever subsidy there is cannot be extended to the private sector.
“That is a very sorry statement to make because you are not subsidising any private sector or private practitioners, you are subsidising the health of the people.
“We are talking of poor maternal health individuals, we are talking about sickle cell anaemia children that need blood transfusions from time to time.
“We are talking of obstetric emergencies where you have haemorrhage as one of the major causes of mortality in women. So blood is such an essential commodity that cannot be allowed to be used as an equal of trade, to be profited from.”
The chairman emphasised that the private sector is a promoter of health, salvaging emergency situations, and servicing 85 per cent of Lagos residents with health services.

Sanwo-Olu
“You need blood, we get the blood from those who are providing blood service and we give the patient exactly the way it is given to us. We don’t do markup on blood transfusions.
“So when the government says it can’t subsidise the private sector, that is a very tragic statement to make and I would want the government to have a rethink,” Esegine said.
The cost of a unit of blood varies per laboratory, location and state.
In Ibadan, a unit of blood goes for N20,000 at the University College Hospital (UCH), costs N10,000 at the National Blood Transfusion Agency, while prices range between N20,000 to N30,000 in other laboratories.
Economy
Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition
Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition
Lagos assembly strongly seeks suspension of Makoko demolition. The Lagos state house of assembly has called for the suspension of demolition activities in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro waterfront communities following protests by displaced residents and growing public concern over the exercise.
The call was announced on Tuesday by Noheem Adams, chairman of an ad hoc committee set up by Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the house, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Lateef Jakande auditorium.
Adams called on all state ministries to cease demolition work and promised compensation to the affected residents.
“On behalf of the speaker and all 40 members of the house, we are directing that all demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Agbon, and Shogunro communities should stop from today until further notice,” New Telegraph quoted Adams as saying.
He called for transparency by demanding the full list of taskforce members and the criteria used for engagement, insisting that residents must be actively involved in the process.
“That the taskforce that was constituted, we want to see the list of the taskforce because we want the residents to be duly involved and to be carried along. So we want to have the schedule of those task forces and the criteria for those that we are inviting,” Adams added.

Lagos Assembly
“To the residents of Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro communities, as your representatives, we are giving you all assurances that they will stop demolitions henceforth and there will be compensations for all those whose properties have been demolished.”
Stephen Ogundipe, member of the ad-hoc, said there is need for clear communication, adding that residents targeted for relocation or redevelopment must be informed of the government’s plans in advance.
Babatunde Olajide, special adviser to governor of Lagos on E-GIS and urban renewal, confirmed that $2 million had been earmarked since 2021 to transform Makoko into a modern, internationally compliant water city.
He said enumeration of affected properties is underway and reiterated the administration’s commitment to handling the situation with a human face, prioritizing resident safety and fair compensation.
Yusuf Sagra, baale of Makoko, described the assembly’s decision as a “word of peace,” while Orioye Ogungbure, another leader of the community, praised the “democratic responsiveness” of the government.
Crime
EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video
EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video
EFCC arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for alleged naira mutilation in viral video. The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 arrested a Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa over alleged Naira mutilation.
Inuwa was arrested following a viral video circulated on social media platforms where she was seen conspicuously cleaning mucus from her nose using Naira notes.

EFCC
Following the release of the viral video, the Commission swung into action by tracing and subsequently arrested her to answer questions.
She is currently being held at the Commission’s detention facility while investigation is ongoing.
The suspect will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
Dele Oyewale
Head, Media & Publicity
February 3, 2026
Economy
Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Access Bank gets new board chair Ifeyinwa Osime. Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29.
Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29, according to a statement to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. on Monday.
Ms Osime, a legal practitioner, joined Access Bank’s board in November 2019 as an independent non-executive director and had chaired its Human Resources and Sustainability Committee and the Governance, Nomination, and Remuneration Committee. This role made her contribute significantly to the bank’s corporate governance, leadership development, and sustainability initiatives.
Additionally, Ms Osime is a director at Ebudo Trust Ltd. and a partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners, where she advises on corporate and commercial matters and contributes to strategic leadership.
She is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Women Corporate Directors, Nigeria Chapter, and the Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria, where she serves on the Executive Committee of the Women Sectoral Group.

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Beyond her professional responsibilities, Ms Osime is committed to mentoring youths and is actively involved in the Autism and Developmental Delays Support Community, reflecting her dedication to inclusion and social impact.
Speaking on her appointment, the group chairman, Aigboje Aig-lmoukhuede, said, “Mrs Osime is a principled and experienced leader with a deep understanding of the Bank’s strategy and values.
“She has demonstrated strong commitment to the bank’s vision and mission, and I am confident that, under her leadership, the bank will continue to advance its strategic objectives of delivering sustainable value to shareholders and other stakeholders in the pursuit of its vision to become the world’s most respected African bank.”
Mr Aig-lmoukhuede also congratulated Mr Usoro on the completion of his tenure and on his exemplary leadership, dedication, and significant contributions to the group, saying he remains a valued member of the Access family.
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