Three years after a young medical doctor died in a tragic elevator accident at a Lagos hospital, the elevator at the facility is still not operational as renovation work on the building continues.
Dr Vwaere Diaso died on August 1, 2023, after an elevator at the House Officers’ Residence of General Hospital, Odan, Lagos Island, crashed while she was inside.
The tragedy sparked widespread outrage and renewed concerns about the condition of medical facilities and accommodation provided for doctors working in public hospitals...READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
Three years later, the 10-storey building where the incident occurred is still undergoing rehabilitation.
Recent checks at the facility showed that construction work remains ongoing, even though the elevator itself has reportedly been fixed.
Doctors living in the building are still unable to use the lift because the rehabilitation of the entire facility has not been completed.
The renovation was originally expected to take about 36 weeks, beginning in April 2024 and ending in January 2025. However, that deadline has passed, with work continuing into September 2026.
The rehabilitation is being carried out in phases because the building remains occupied by doctors working at nearby hospitals.
According to information from medical personnel familiar with the project, several upper floors had been completed by early 2026, while work subsequently moved to other floors.
The project has also reportedly experienced delays, including problems caused by water seeping through ceilings and leaving parts of the building damp.
The Medical Guild has continued engaging the Lagos State Government over the rehabilitation, with construction work later progressing after some of the delays.
The residence provides accommodation for about 100 doctors working at General Hospital Lagos, Lagos Island Maternity Hospital and Massey Street Children’s Hospital.
The continued use of the stairs has reportedly created additional difficulties for doctors, particularly those living on the upper floors.
The Lagos State Government previously stated that new elevators had been installed at the building but would only be commissioned after the civil works were completed.
Authorities also said the state had introduced stricter safety standards for elevator operations and management following the 2023 tragedy.
The death of Dr Diaso occurred when the elevator carrying her reportedly malfunctioned and plunged between floors. She sustained severe injuries and later died after efforts to get her medical assistance.
The incident triggered investigations and government action, including sanctions relating to the management of the facility.
The prolonged rehabilitation of the doctors’ residence has now renewed attention on the condition of infrastructure at one of Lagos’ oldest hospitals.
While construction and other improvements are reportedly continuing at the facility, the tragedy that claimed Dr Diaso’s life remains a painful reminder of the importance of properly maintained infrastructure and effective safety systems in healthcare facilities.
