General News
Lagos Launches Centralised Mental Health Providers Directory
Lagos State Government has unveiled the Lagos Community of Mental Health Providers (LCP) Directory, a pioneering digital registry that centralises verified information on all mental health practitioners and organisations across the state.
The launch, which took place at the Ministry of Health, Alausa-Ikeja, marks a significant advancement in the state’s efforts to enhance access to mental health services, reduce stigma, and foster collaboration among providers in Nigeria’s most populous city.
Dr Tolu Ajomale, head, Special Projects and Mental Health, Lagos State Ministry of Health, said the directory marks a “historic and system-shaping milestone” in Lagos State’s commitment to improving access, reducing stigma, and strengthening coordination within its fast-expanding mental-health ecosystem.
He emphasised that, despite Lagos being home to Nigeria’s largest concentration of mental-health practitioners, the absence of a unified, verified information hub has long hindered access and timely help-seeking.
Dr Ajomale explained that the new directory directly addresses these gaps by providing a single, trusted, real-time platform where residents, families, health workers, development partners, and policymakers can identify credible mental-health providers, their locations, areas of expertise, and accessibility.
“This platform replaces confusion with clarity, isolation with collaboration, and misinformation with accountability,” he noted.
The directory, he added, aligns with the Lagos State Mental Health Law (2018), the THEMES+ Agenda, and the Ministry’s broader public health and primary healthcare strengthening strategies.
He described it as a major step toward consolidating the State’s leadership in mental-health reform and ensuring that every Lagosian can find help safely, reliably, and promptly.
According to Dr. Ajomale, the LCP Directory captures both clinical and non-clinical actors, including psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurses, social workers, therapists, NGOs, digital health innovators, research institutions, community groups, support networks, and diaspora providers offering virtual services.
This inclusive scope, he said, reflects the State’s commitment to recognising all contributors to mental wellbeing.
He listed improved access to credible resources, enhanced visibility for providers, strengthened referral systems, and support for research, planning, and policy implementation among the platform’s core benefits.
According to him, the directory also establishes a more coordinated environment for partnership, innovation, and mental-health system development.
Dr Ajomale announced that registration is officially open via www.lagosmind.org/providers and www.bit.ly/ileraokan, urging all practitioners and organisations to join the verified network.
He stressed that registration is completely free and subject to a multi-step verification process to ensure safety, accuracy, and compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act.
He further revealed that providers and organisations stand to gain significantly from increased visibility, stronger referral pathways, access to collaboration opportunities, and recognition as part of Lagos State’s official mental-health ecosystem. Periodic updates, training opportunities, and research engagements will also be extended to registered members.
Highlighting the public-health rationale, Dr. Ajomale noted that Lagos, because of its dense population and urban pressures, carries a disproportionate share of Nigeria’s mental-health burden.
Yet, residents often rely on unverified sources, guesswork, or social media for help, putting them at risk of unsafe or inappropriate service referral.
He emphasised that the new directory will help Lagosians navigate crises, locate services based on LGA, cost, specialty, language, or accessibility, and reduce misinformation. “For the first time, Lagosians will have a central, reliable gateway to mental-health care,” he said.
The directory will also support government planning by enabling real-time mapping of workforce distribution, service availability, and emerging gaps in the system.
Dr. Ajomale said the data-driven approach will further strengthen emergency preparedness and mental-health integration into primary healthcare.
PalmPay has opened a new office at 33 Old Yaba Road, Lagos, reinforcing its commitment to innovation, customer service, and operational growth in Nigeria.
The new office represents a continued investment in PalmPay’s people, operations, and infrastructure, supporting the company’s ability to deliver reliable financial services at scale. Designed to accommodate PalmPay’s growing team, the workspace enables closer cross-functional collaboration while strengthening service delivery nationwide. Located in Yaba, one of Lagos’s most established commercial and technology corridors, the office further anchors PalmPay within Nigeria’s innovation and financial ecosystem.
Speaking at the office launch, Managing Director Chika Nwosu highlighted that the new workspace reflects PalmPay’s long-term vision and dedication to excellence. “This new office represents an important step in our growth journey and our commitment to building secure, reliable, and inclusive financial solutions for our users,” he said.
The launch event was attended by PalmPay’s leadership team, employees and customers, who toured the facility and marked the company’s continued growth and progress.
With the opening of its office at 33 Old Yaba Road, PalmPay continues to strengthen its presence in Nigeria and reaffirm its mission to drive financial inclusion through innovative digital solutions.
PalmPay is a leading digital banking platform driving financial inclusion and economic empowerment in underserved emerging markets. Through its secure, user-friendly, and inclusive suite of financial services, PalmPay empowers individuals and businesses with tools to manage and grow their money.
PalmPay offers a comprehensive range of products, including mobile payments, savings, and micro-insurance via its app and mobile money agent network.
Since launching in Nigeria in 2019 under a Mobile Money Operator license, the platform has grown to over 35 million app users and processes up to 15 million transactions daily. PalmPay has operations in Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, and Bangladesh.
The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc has announced the signing of a chain of contracts with major airlines for the provision of total handling solutions.
In a statement on Tuesday, the company announced the signing of contract renewals with Air France, KLM and Virgin Atlantic, as well as the African operator, RwandAir.
NAHCO also signed fresh contracts with United Nigeria – Regional, Bellagio and Malaikair.
According to the statement, the contracts with Air France and KLM are for three years and will run till 2028, respectively. The duration of the contract with Virgin Atlantic was also put at three years.
The duration for the RwandAir contract is for three years, effective 1 October 2025.
The statement read, “The new contract with United – Regional would be for a period of five years, effective from 1 August 2025. For Bellagio and Malaikair, the contracts are for three and five years, respectively.
“Bellagio Air, Nigeria’s rising star in aviation, is redefining air travel with a blend of luxury, efficiency, and reliability. Headquartered in the vibrant city of Ikeja, Lagos, Bellagio Air is committed to providing world-class service across key domestic and regional routes.”
The Group Executive Director, Commercial and Business Development, NAHCO Plc, Saheed Lasisi, who expressed his delight with the new contracts, said NAHCO is already ready to exceed customers’ expectations.
According to Lasisi, NAHCO’s more than 46 years of unblemished excellent service delivery puts it heads and shoulders above any other service provider in the industry.
“This is what we have been doing for almost half of a century. We will continue to delight our customers and make our stakeholders happy by exceeding expectations in all aspects of our service offerings. We are always willing and ready to do more,” Lasisi added.
The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, NAHCO Plc, Olumuyiwa Olumekun, added that with the new fleet of equipment the company is deploying, service delivery will only be better.
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled a forward-looking strategy that places satellite-enabled mobile connectivity at the heart of the country’s drive to bridge its long-standing coverage gaps.
The draft Spectrum Roadmap for the Communications Sector for 2025 to 2030 lays out how satellite technologies could help deliver reliable voice and data services to millions of Nigerians who live beyond the reach of conventional mobile networks.
The direction is outlined in the Commission’s draft Spectrum Roadmap for the Communications Sector covering the period.
The proposed approach highlights non-terrestrial networks as a complement to existing mobile infrastructure, especially in areas where terrain, insecurity, or high costs limit the deployment of base stations.
The NCC said D2D satellite technology, which allows standard mobile phones to connect directly to satellites, is gaining traction globally as a means of delivering voice and data services without reliance on ground towers.
According to the regulator, the technology could help close persistent coverage gaps in rural, riverine, and border communities that remain outside the reach of conventional networks.
It also noted that satellite-backed connectivity could improve network reliability by providing alternative links during fibre cuts, power failures, or other disruptions affecting terrestrial systems.
The Commission added that wider adoption of D2D services could support emergency communications, public safety operations, Internet of Things applications, and services such as smart agriculture in underserved regions.
It also pointed to potential investment opportunities through partnerships between mobile network operators and satellite companies, including more efficient use of shared spectrum resources.
Beyond D2D services, the roadmap places emphasis on Low-Earth Orbit satellites to expand broadband access to remote parts of the country.
It also proposes better utilisation of Geostationary Orbit satellites and the exploration of high-altitude platforms, such as stratospheric balloons, to support mobile backhaul and rural connectivity.
The policy signals come shortly after Airtel Africa announced an agreement with SpaceX to introduce Starlink-powered direct-to-cell services in Nigeria.
The NCC’s roadmap is expected to shape future spectrum allocation, licensing decisions, and technology adoption across the telecommunications sector.
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