LAGBUS Spoils Baby That Was Delivered On Bus With Gifts
The operator of metropolitan buses in Lagos, LAGBUS Asset Management Ltd., donated cash and other gifts to the parents of a baby delivered on its bus on Jan. 5.
The company's Head of Enforcement, Kolawole Silva-Ope, told NAN that the company has high regard for pregnant women.
Silva-Ope said that it is the custom of LAGBUS to take care of babies delivered on its buses and present them with gifts. He added that there have been many cases of such, but this case was unique because it happened at Oshodi, a popular market, and on the first work day of 2015.
“It happened on Monday January 5th. We we were on a routine patrol to Oshodi when we stopped the bus and on getting inside, we found a woman in child labour.
“We called for ambulance and in the process of sending for an ambulance, the woman gave birth on the bus.
“We transferred her to our Hilux Van and took her to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital at Ikeja for further treatment.
“We have had many cases of this, but the uniqueness of this is that it happened on the first work day of the year and at Oshodi Bus Stop, a popular Market.
“The passengers had to cover her with clothes to give birth and clean up the bus.
“LAGBUS has taken as much responsibility as possible and when the bill is sent LAGBUS, we will take care of it,'' he said.
The LAGBUS official, who said that the gesture was to show to appreciation and gratitude, noted that the baby was “LAGBUS Baby of the Year.''
Kemi Akinyemi, the mother of the baby, said she appreciates the gesture. Kemi, who is a dealer in ready made clothes, said she was coming from Idumota with goods bought for sale at her residence at Atan, Ota in Ogun state.
“The doctor gave the EDD to be Jan. 10, but the child labour was coming and going, that was the reason I managed to go to the market to buy goods.
“I thank LAGBUS; if it was commercial buses, they would have left me to my fate and go their way when in child labour''.
Akinyemi said that she chose to board LAGBUS because it was cheaper, easy and convenient for her.
The father of the baby Bolaji Akinyemi, who is a farmer, said that “LAGBUS is good and hospitable, most especially to pregnant women”.
“This kind of gesture cannot be rendered by many people, particularly in a state where everybody is rushing.
“If we have people showing this kind of kindness, maternal mortality will not be on the increase,'' he said.
He thanked the management of LAGBUS for the cash and gifts and urged the company to continue to do well.
According to NAN an undisclosed amount of money with some baby things were donated to the parents of the baby at their residence in Atan, Ogun state.
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