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The family of 11-year-old David Oluwanifemi Elijah has accused the Lagos State Government of failing to respond to urgent appeals for financial assistance following injuries he sustained after falling from a school building injuries that later claimed his life.
David, a Junior Secondary School (JSS 2) pupil at Millennium Community Junior Grammar School, reportedly fell from the window of his second-floor classroom during break time on December 5, 2025. The school is located on Kareem Laka Street in Egbeda, Alimosho Local Government Area.
According to his father, Mr. Elijah, the boy allegedly fell after being pushed by a classmate during what is believed to have been a scuffle. It remains unclear whether the push was accidental or deliberate.
Rushed to Hospital
David was immediately taken to Crystal Hospital in Egbeda for initial treatment before being referred to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, due to the severity of his injuries.
Recounting the painful ordeal, Mr. Elijah said he received an emergency call from the school informing him of the incident.
“I immediately informed my wife, and we rushed to Crystal Hospital where he had been taken. Later, he was transferred to LASUTH because of the seriousness of his condition,” he said amid tears.
At LASUTH, fresh examinations including X-rays were conducted. However, doctors informed the family that David required two urgent surgeries estimated at about ₦5 million.
“They told me that because of the doctors’ strike, only a standard private hospital could carry out the procedures,” Mr. Elijah said, adding that he bore the medical expenses up to that point.
Limited Support, Mounting Bills
The school principal reportedly paid ₦20,000 for the initial hospital card at Crystal Hospital and later provided a total of ₦200,000 to assist with medical bills.
But the family said this was grossly insufficient given the escalating costs.
Mr. Elijah disclosed that he reached out to Education District 1 and the Permanent Secretary, Idowu Olufunke Oyetola, seeking government intervention.
“She informed me that she had written an appeal letter to the Ministry of Education at the Alausa Secretariat, attaching medical reports and receipts,” he said.
Additionally, the family’s church, The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), wrote a formal appeal letter dated December 17, 2025, addressed to Governor Babajide Olushola Sanwo-Olu, with copies sent to key state officials, including the Deputy Governor’s Office, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, the Secretary to the State Government, and the Commissioner for Basic and Tertiary Education.
The family said acknowledgment copies of the letters were received on December 19, 2025.
“Despite these efforts, no financial assistance came between December 5 and December 21, 2025, while my son remained hospitalised at LASUTH,” the father lamented.
Medical personnel had reportedly stressed the urgency of the surgeries to prevent complications and alleviate David’s severe pain.
Withdrawal from LASUTH, Tragic End
With no government intervention forthcoming and hospital bills mounting, Mr. Elijah said he was forced to withdraw his son from LASUTH after exhausting his savings, seeking alternative treatment at an orthopedic facility.
Tragically, David died on January 19, 2026.
Growing Concerns
David’s death has sparked serious concerns over safety standards in public schools and the responsiveness of government authorities during medical emergencies involving students.
Residents and concerned citizens are calling for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fall, as well as a review of safety measures in school buildings to prevent similar tragedies.
Efforts to get official comments from relevant Lagos State authorities were ongoing as of the time of filing this report.
Lagos Reporters will continue to follow this developing story.
SB E-news.
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