₦airaland Forum

HacheNoire:
As in?

The state is not even poor. It is a rich state. But has produced the most evil and demonic governors.

HacheNoire:
The elites of Ogun state have abandoned governance and the people are left to choose between the worst.

Look at the length and breadth of that state, does it look like it has had a governor in the last 3 decades? Everywhere is an eyesore!

Look at the current governor who looked at everything wrong in the state and the only thing he could think of was to build an airport.

The state is a cash cow for politicians.

Ogun state is an open air concentration camp. I stand to be corrected.

BewareOf419:
They said this man is not from Ogun state, people are now shouting LADO, LADO, LADO

IamPatriotic:
I remember when they said Gbenga Daniel was an Itshekiri man, from Delta State, that his grandparents sojourned to Ijebu land as farmers. That lie gained traction

Every election season, the same scenario plays out in Ogun State. Family history is questioned. Home ownership is scrutinised. Senate districts become battlegrounds of identity. The 2027 gubernatorial election follows this pattern, with Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola’s long tenure in Lagos cited by his opponents as a weakness in his Ogun identity.

However, a state with Ogun’s potential deserves better than a rehash of old squabbles. The most important questions voters are asking are neither new nor complex. Who can govern from day one? Who understands the strain on public finances, the urgent need for infrastructure, the pressure on employment, the need for schools, and the everyday struggles of ordinary families? These are the issues that should define 2027, not family house politics. Ogun doesn’t need a governor based on family lineage. It needs a governor based on competence.

In our politics, lineage is invoked far too often when performance analysis is difficult. When a person’s career path is minimal, people exaggerate their origins. When their influence is visible, the conversation shifts from devotion to genealogy. Identity mobilises the masses, but it doesn’t build roads, create jobs, or strengthen the institutions we need. This is the poverty of identity politics, as it merely generates enthusiasm at campaign rallies and leaves the state exactly where it found it. Or make it worse.

However, Adeola’s origins are undeniable. His paternal roots trace back to Ago-Isaga and Pahayi in Ilaro, while his maternal lineage links him to Kemta in Egbaland. Traditional leaders, temporal and spiritual authorities, merchants, and other key players in Yewa and Egbaland have recognised him as omo oye, a legitimate son of the region’s cultural and political heritage. If the guardians of that heritage have spoken so clearly, then it is just and sensible that the entire state of Ogun accept him as one of their own. He should not be treated as an outsider seeking borrowed legitimacy, but as a leader whose identity the communities to which he belongs have validated.

More pressing issues lie elsewhere. Should a strategic state like Ogun sacrifice its future in a debate that cannot guarantee the livelihoods of its people or repair a single road? Its farmers need better roads to transport their crops, storage facilities, and credit to increase yields. Its traders need stronger markets and security. Its youth need more jobs, training, and greater opportunities. Its communities need water, electricity, schools, and truly functional primary healthcare. Its industrial corridors need infrastructure that matches the investment. None of these challenges will be solved by arguing over district names.

Governing is not for amateurs. The responsibilities of the executive office are too weighty to rely on sentimentality, improvisation, or trial and error. A governor must understand budgetary language, respect institutional discipline, master the politics of negotiation, and have the patience to translate priorities into measurable results.

Adeola has come a long way in public service. From the Lagos State House of Representatives, where he served from 2003 to 2011 and chaired the Finance Committee, to the House of Representatives, where he chaired the Public Accountability Committee, and then to the Senate, first for Lagos West and since 2023 for Ogun West. His career has been a continuous learning experience in legislation, oversight, district management, and the complex relationship between politics and public finance. As a certified public accountant and current chair of the Senate Budget Committee, he sits at the heart of the national budget, where the numbers must add up, competing demands for public funds must be considered, and fiscal priorities must be championed beyond mere rhetoric. The fact that he comes to these responsibilities with a technical background in accounting further strengthens the argument that he brings substance to a field often saturated with noise.

Ogun is too strategic a state to be learnt on the job. It’s an industrial, border state, a manufacturing corridor, and a neighbour of Lagos. The next governor must understand money, policy, negotiation, and implementation, and shouldn’t spend their first few years learning the fundamentals of governance. The state needs a leader who can meet with technocrats, engage development partners, evaluate public procurement options, interpret the budget beyond its formal presentation, and take projects from promise to document and from document to construction. Adeola’s greatest appeal lies precisely in this, as he appears ready to take office in Oke-Mosan with a practical understanding of the system.

Politics only has meaning when it impacts people’s lives. In almost all communities of Ogun State, Adeola’s interventions have achieved precisely that. Roads have been built and rehabilitated. Access to rural areas has improved. Solar-powered streetlights have extended commercial activity and community life well past nightfall. These small but tangible improvements are how ordinary citizens assess whether the government is truly present.

Their empowerment programmes have benefited women, artisans, young entrepreneurs, and small business owners. In times of economic hardship, this kind of support is not a luxury. A grant, a sewing machine, business equipment, or a new skill can mean the difference between dependency and dignity for an entire family. The Oloja Yayi Market Support Fund has become a symbol of this approach. Nigeria’s informal economy bears the brunt of daily life’s hardships, and support for vendors quickly translates into school tuition, job training, food, and necessities.

It’s easy to overlook these interventions in elite conversations, but those who understand the social economy of our communities know this well.

Education is not neglected either. Classrooms, ICT support, and scholarships reflect the state’s future. Ogun cannot continue to project itself as an industrial destination if it neglects the human resources that must drive those ambitions, as factories need workers, technology needs skilled minds, and development needs an educated citizenry. Healthcare, water, and electricity are also part of his interventions in primary healthcare centres, drinking water systems, transformers, thus ensuring that public services are not luxuries, but they essential for daily survival. Governance is most meaningful when it solves everyday problems.

Critics who focus on the sheer number of these projects miss the fundamental message. Their true value lies in their vision and scope: policy should impact lives, open doors, and improve communities. Equally important, their dissemination beyond a narrow base reinforces the argument that Adeola’s gubernatorial aspirations are comprehensive in conception, not sectoral in design.

It has become fashionable to pretend that access is unimportant in Nigeria’s federal system. In fact, access is crucial. States do not develop in isolation but thrive through a clear vision, quality leadership, and the ability to negotiate with the central government without sacrificing local priorities. Any governor who understands the mechanisms of national power has a distinct advantage in attracting attention, resources, and strategic alliances.

Adeola’s role in the Senate budget process places him at the intersection of national priorities and public spending. Properly leveraged for Ogun, this proximity could further accelerate the rehabilitation and expansion of key federal highways traversing the state, strengthen the need for rail and industrial port connections, and capitalise on federal trade policy and special economic zone incentives to attract manufacturing hubs and logistics investment. This could further help channel federal agricultural interventions, climate resilience funding, and digital economy initiatives directly to Ogun’s rural and urban communities.

Lest anyone misunderstand, this is not a call for Ogun to become dependent on Abuja. Rather, it calls for leadership that knows how to secure the state’s share while strengthening its own economy. A governor who understands the seat of government can negotiate more effectively, attract more investment, and achieve results more quickly. And Ogun’s location makes this ability even more crucial: the state shares Lagos’s economic dynamism, serves as an industrial gateway to Nigeria, and has enormous potential in manufacturing, agriculture, logistics, and entrepreneurship. But geography is only an advantage in the hands of leadership that knows how to use it, a leadership that can engage with investors, negotiate with Abuja, and, at the same time, understand rural roads, market stalls, and public schools. In this, Adeola is uniquely positioned as the most able of all contestants to expand the successes of the Governor Dapo Abiodun administration.

The issue of Ogun West Senatorial District remains one of the most unresolved matters in the state’s political history. Since 1976, Ogun East and Ogun Central have produced governors multiple times, while Ogun West has been waiting. This fact carries real moral and political weight as it speaks to inclusion, balance, and the need for every part of the state to feel empowered in the highest office.

However, equality should not be reduced to mere sentimentality, and the governorship is too important to be granted simply as compensation. Ogun West’s strongest argument in 2027 will not be based solely on grievances, but on the quality of the candidate it presents. In Adeola, the region offers a man who can argue from experience and equality, grounded in commitment and preparation.

The 2027 elections will test Ogun’s political maturity. The state can waste another season arguing over trivial matters, or it can confront the real question before it: who has the preparation, scope, experience, and discipline necessary to propel Ogun’s progress?

Adeola isn’t perfect. No candidate is. But politics isn’t a search for angels but a choice between people with verifiable track records. In that sense, his experience is tangible, his networks are valuable, his knowledge of public finances is proven, and his connection to grassroots politics is evident. His opponents are free to refute these claims, as is appropriate in a democracy. But Ogun’s voters must insist that these arguments transcend rumours.

Ogun State doesn’t need a merely ceremonial governor in 2027. It needs a builder, someone with the confidence to negotiate, the discipline to manage resources, and the courage to bring development to every district. The state must look beyond appearances and prioritise substance. Each candidate must be judged on their preparation, competence, temperament, vision, and ability to execute. By these criteria, Yayi has presented Ogun State with a case it cannot wish away.

Adeolu Adebari, the Managing Partner, Constellation Holdings, writes from Itoko, Abeokuta, Ogun State

abbasajao:
2025 report has been released long ago by all banks including gtco. And all the banks I mentioned above are yet to released January to June 2026 report. They have all sought and granted extention by CBN.

abbasajao:
Zenith bank, UBA, GTBank, Fidelity bank are all among banks that have requested extension to publish their half year results.

Why writing about Gtbank?

The Action Alliance (AA) Ogun State Chapter has adopted Otunba Segun Showunmi, a chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as its governorship candidate ahead of the 2027 governorship candidate.

The party members led by its chairman, Julius Adebola made this known during a visit to his private residence located at Government Reservation Area (GRA), Ibara, Abeokuta, Ogun State Capital.

The chairman of the party in his speech said the party approached Showunmi because of his stance against bad governance and his capacity to provide forthright leadership, expressing confidence that he would pursue a developmental agenda if given the mandate

Showunmi while speaking recalled that Labour Party (LP) made same call recently when the party leadership visited him, citing his leadership qualities and commitment to the masses.

The Egba born politician, however, lamented voter apathy across the country, with reference to the last Saturday’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) council election, describing it as a major threat to democracy, and expressed disappointment that only about 7.1 per cent of registered voters reportedly participated.

“I am told that we have done over 90 million PVC in Nigeria but where are all those PVC on the day of the election? You will naturally expect that a population that speaks about development, government and politics everywhere should know that participating is the only thing that makes sense’, Showunmi stated.

“We have just had an election in Abuja. I do not quarrel or begrudge those who won, but I am extremely unhappy that about 7.1 per cent came out to participate despite being an enlightened environment’, he said

Showunmi disclosed that this concern informed his decision to found The Alternative Movement to raise awareness and encourage greater political participation.

The chieftain of the opposition party stressed that it was unacceptable for a few individuals to determine the fate of over 220 million Nigerians because many citizens chose to abstain from the political process.

The party stalwart, was equally of the view that the 2027 governorship contest should provide an opportunity for Ogun West Senatorial District to produce the next governor of the state.

The frankly speaking Showunmi said the state must begin to ask itself critical questions ahead of the election, especially whether Ogun West, which he pointed out had not produced a governor since the creation of the state about 50 years ago, should be given the chance in 2027.

‘The state must decide whether Ogun West Senatorial District, which has not produced a governor since the state was created, should be given the opportunity in 2027’, he emphaised

He equally cautioned politicians against turning the race into what he described as a campaign of calumny aimed at scoring cheap political points, insisting that the focus should be on development driven agendas.

“The second question we need to go and ask ourselves seriously is what does the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria say concerning eligibility, the right to vote and be voted for’, he added

Penpushing also reports that he expressed displeasure over what he called uncharitable attempts to question the eligibility of certain aspirants, added that, some politicians abandoned their own campaign and fighting over eligibility of aspirant

“My ears are overfull with some of your leaders, politicians and others, who will abandon their own campaign and be screaming, non-stop that somebody is not from somewhere’, Showunmi stated

Penpushing reports that Showunmi described such as misplaced arguments suggesting that an individual already serving as a senator could suddenly be deemed ineligible to contest for governor.

“If we decided to do the DNA test of all of us some of you may even be surprised that the people you are even calling your parents are not your parents.How can you say that somebody who has been given the wherewithal to represent in the senatorial district is no longer from your state?’

“The eligibility hurdle that says that somebody can be voted for and can present himself for voting has already been crossed out by being the senator representing Ogun West’, he added.

“So, I don’t have time for bending issues. If you want to campaign, do your campaign on an agenda that will bolster the development of the state and not on unnecessary frivolities,” he said.

The striking workers of Ogun State, on Tuesday, vowed not to sit down and talk with any government official other than Governor Dapo Abiodun.

The workers had embarked on an indefinite strike on Tuesday, over the unremitted N82bn contributory pension deductions spanning 14 years.

Addressing journalists at the secretariat of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Ogun State Council, at Oke Ilewo, Abeokuta, the labour leaders said the strike would continue until the governor called the labour union leaders for a fruitful meeting.

They claimed that past meetings held with other government officials had brought no respite, adding that the issue under dispute was crucial to their survival and well-being.

Speaking during the press briefing, the state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Hameed Ademola-Benco, supported by his Trade Union Congress counterpart, Comrade Akeem Lasisi and representative of the Joint Negotiating Council, stated that no amount of threat or intimidation would make them call off the strike except a concrete agreement with the governor was achieved.

Ademola-Benco said, “Yes we have been receiving calls from one government official, but I told my colleagues that we are not going to meet that person, he is our major problem.

“We want to meet only the governor, His Excellency, Dapo Abiodun. He is our employer.

“We are not employees of the Secretary to the State Government, we are not employees of the Head of Service or the Chief of Staff or any commissioner.

“We are employees of Governor Abiodun. He is the one paying our salaries every month, and he is the one we want to sit with on this matter, not any other person.”

He said the contributory pension scheme was giving the workers sleepless nights, arguing that even if it was implemented, a worker who retired on the old pension scheme could be collecting over N300,000 monthly pension while someone who retired on the contributory pension scheme of the same level would be collecting N60,000 as monthly pension.

He said according to the 2013 amended pension law of Ogun State, the commencement of the scheme was slated for July 1, 2025, whereas the government had failed to remit over N82bn contributory pension deductions of the workers in over 14 years.

The NLC chairman also said the government had failed to pay workers’ leave allowances of over eight years, saying it had repeatedly reneged to fulfil several pledges on the huge outstanding running into several billions of naira.

Comrade Lasisi said the pension scheme which came into force in 2008 was designed to fail from the outset.

He said, “The administration of Governor Gbenga Daniel which started the scheme refused to pay some months, while only nine months was paid under Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s eight-year administration, with Governor Abiodun in the last six years also not paying a dime.”

He said, “We have had several meetings, sent several messages to the government but got no reply yet the future of the entire workforce looks so bleak.

“The way the contributory pension is being handled is a big source of a nightmare to the workers in the state.

“The government set up different committees on the implementation of the CPS but it has refused to work on the recommendation.”

Lasisi said whereas the CPS law says that 7.5 per cent of the workers’ emoluments should be deducted every month, the employer, in this case, the government, will also add 7.5 per cent, making 15 per cent and remit the savings within seven days to the approved Pension Fund Administrators, yet for over 14 years, the government of Ogun State had defaulted.

He said the workers had vowed not to honour any meeting with government representatives except the governor, adding that he was the only one who could help to resolve the crisis.

FreeIgboho:
So sad. Some of us who never had to think about school fees never knew how lucky we were...

Nigerian doctor shares a recent encounter with an ex-classmate of his from medical school who now hawks things to make a living.
The doctor identified as Dr. Cheta took to Facebook to reveal that from their chat, the ex-classmate had revealed that he had been the one sponsoring his own medical education.
However, he had to drop out at 500 level since he couldn’t afford to continue paying his fees, and had no support from anyone.
His words …



https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14FtHJHKaL7/

APCNig:
Yayi is a Fellow of the Charted Institute of Accountants of Nigeria. None of the clowns in the list has a better credentials

As the 2027 Ogun State gubernatorial election approaches, political discussions are heating up, with several technocrats emerging as potential dark horses.

These individuals, known for their expertise, innovation, and leadership in their respective fields, could shake up the race with their fresh perspectives and proven track records.


1. Bosun Tijani: The Tech Visionary

Dr. Olatunbosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, is a name synonymous with technological advancement and youth empowerment.

A native of Abeokuta, Ogun State, Tijani’s roots in the state give him a strong connection to its people. His journey from founding CcHUB (Co-Creation Hub), a leading tech innovation hub in Africa, to his current ministerial role showcases his ability to drive transformative change.

With a PhD in Innovation and Economic Development from the University of Leicester, Tijani brings a blend of global expertise and local insight. His focus on digital economy growth could appeal to Ogun’s youth and tech-savvy electorate, positioning him as a formidable dark horse in 2027.

2. Oluyemi Oloyede: The Corporate Innovator

Oluyemi Oloyede, a prominent figure in Nigeria’s corporate landscape, serves as the Managing Director of UAC Foods, a subsidiary of UAC of Nigeria Plc. Oloyede has built a reputation for strategic leadership and business acumen. His work at UAC Foods has focused on driving growth in one of Nigeria’s leading food and beverage companies, overseeing iconic brands that resonate with households across the country.

Oloyede’s potential candidacy is bolstered by his deep understanding of economic challenges and opportunities in Ogun State, a hub for industrial and commercial activities. His experience in managing large-scale operations and navigating complex market dynamics could translate into effective governance.

Additionally, Oloyede’s low-key yet influential presence, combined with his ability to connect with diverse stakeholders, makes him a wildcard candidate who could appeal to voters seeking a pragmatic, business-oriented leader.

For years, his political family have pushed for him to run, but he has kept his focus firmly on his career, but his continual corporate success and visibility position him as a technocrat to watch in 2027, if he finally yields to the call.

3. Dr. Biodun Collins Ogundipe: The Academic and Innovation Strategist

Biodun Collins Ogundipe (PhD) is a Nigerian Aerospace Engineer, AI Expert, Technologist, and Social Innovator with experience in scientific computing, machine learning (ML), application development, robotics, and industrial applications. An authority in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning, Dr BCO, as
he is fondly called, is multi-lingual with proven leadership accomplishments across professional, business, and
political spheres.

His adventures into politics as a Student Union Leader in OAU put him in better stead to do more on a bigger platform. So, it was during the Gubernatorial elections in 2003 that he was saddled with election monitoring, campaign organizations, and INEC rule implementations, a task he did to commendable satisfaction. Even as he hustled his way through School in Canada and Ukraine, he kept in touch with local politics and frequently financed or provided insights into political ventures in Abeokuta, his hometown.

His potential candidacy could resonate with voters looking for a leader who combines intellectual rigour with a forward-thinking approach to development. While he may not yet have the public profile of other contenders, his expertise in leveraging technology for practical solutions could make him a strong contender in Ogun State’s increasingly dynamic political landscape. Also, his ability to speak Chinese fluently could give him an edge as a mediator between the state and the Chinese investors seeking to do business in Nigeria.

Why These Technocrats Matter

Ogun State, with its industrial hubs, agricultural potential, and growing youth population, demands leaders who can harness innovation, economic expertise, and global perspectives.

Bosun Tijani’s tech-driven vision, Oluyemi Oloyede’s corporate leadership, and Dr. Biodun Collins Ogundipe’s innovative approach position them as technocrats capable of addressing these needs.

As dark horses, they may not be the loudest names in the race yet, but their credentials and potential to disrupt the status quo make them figures to watch in 2027, especially if they are backed by one of the various powerful political families in the state, with others adopting them also as compromise candidates instead of career politicians.

As the political landscape evolves, these technocrats could shift the narrative, offering Ogun State voters a blend of competence, innovation, and fresh leadership. Whether they choose to step into the ring, their profiles signal a new era of governance possibilities for Ogun State.


Disclaimer: The potential candidacy of these individuals is speculative and based on their professional achievements and public profiles. No official declarations of intent for the 2027 Ogun gubernatorial race have been confirmed at the time of writing.

OriOko88:
if we talk now they Wil say we worship the whites. Why wud a country be using the same template for minimum wage. USA uses different templates for minimum wage same as in Germany. My sister in Indiana told me their own minimum wage is $12 per hour while in California it's $16. It shows that each state pays it's own minimum wage based on it's economy potential. But in Nigeria the govt is fixing same minimum wage for a worker in Ekiti or zamfara and the ones in Lagos or Rivers. C'mon. Let each state fix it's own minimum wage. But before that can be effective,we must return to Regional govt.

Mk we dey play dey go until then.

helinues:


Adebutu and Pdp should go and sit down somewhere.

Yewa axis should be able to produce the next governor, any credible candidate apart from Yayi should be considered

The turmoil within the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party on Thursday, escalated as the state chairman, Sikirullai Ogundele, attributed the party’s defeat in the 2023 elections to the gubernatorial candidate, Hon. Ladi Adebutu.

Ogundele accused Adebutu of exhibiting authoritarian behaviour, disregarding party leadership, and refusing counsel, which, he claimed, contributed significantly to the party’s failure to secure power in the state.

He lamented that despite pleas from influential figures like presidential candidate of the party in 2023 Atiku Abubakar and former president Olusegun Obasanjo to include former governor Gbenga Daniel on the ballot, Adebutu allegedly remained obstinate.

He said, “The reason why we are not in power today is because of Hon. Ladi Adebutu. 90 percent of the reason why we are not in government today was caused by Hon. Ladi Adebutu and this is because of his high-handedness, he does not listen to anybody’s advice.

“Adebutu has been the major reason why the party has been failing since 2019 election. I don’t think Adebutu himself is interested in becoming the governor.

“Atiku came to Abeokuta twice to plead with Adebutu that we should put OGD (former governor Gbenga Daniel) on the ballot, but he refused. If we had put OGD (Daniel) on the ballot, the party would have won many seats at the election.

“Everybody was aware that Atiku came to Ogun state twice to beg him (Adebutu). Obasanjo too begged him, but he refused to shift ground.”

Ogundele pledged to reclaim the party’s integrity from Adebutu’s influence, emphasizing that the PDP should operate democratically, without being beholden to any individual.

Ogundele insisted that PDP is not anybody’s personal property.

He said, PDP must be seen and run as a political party that is fair and just to every member irrespective of his or her financial status or position.

Also speaking, the deputy governorship candidate of the party at the 2023 election, Adekunle Akinlade said, the party must be better repositioned to defeat the ruling party in 2027.

He said “What we are saying is that, if we must win or perform differently in 2027, we must reposition this party, we must bring in everybody to this party, we must make everybody feel comfortable that this party is for all of us.

“We must put the past behind us, we must put 2023 behind us and forge a strong front that can give the opportunity to face whatever the future holds.

“The party must be more disciplined and our leaders must have the right temperament and good character”, Akinlade said.

But, reacting, Adebutu described Ogundele as selfish, describing his attack as a “foul cry from a man after his own personal gains”.

Adebutu who spoke through his spokesman, Afolabi Orekoya said he was not perturbed by Ogundele’s allegations and would not join issues with him.

“The chairman is just on his own, out of 57 state executive council members, if it is only the chairman that is alone saying that, then you know that there is more to it.

“We are not joining issues with him, he is the only one on that journey, he was the only state executive member that was at the meeting out of 57 that is to tell you that it is more of his own personal thinking.

“Was it Adebutu that went to disrupt or cause violence at Sagamu where elections were destroyed? Was it Adebutu that gave the judgements at the courts?

He is crying foul because of his personal gain and enterprise, we are not perturbed and we are not surprised.

It was a cool afternoon on Saturday, September 10, 2023. After a bumpy and tiring ride from Sango Ota, the motorcyclist conveying this reporter screeched to a halt at Itekun road in Igbesa, Ado-Odo Ota local government area (LGA), Ogun state.

Situated on the hustling and bustling road connecting Igbesa and Itekun, another town in Ado-Odo Ota LGA, is a 20-bed primary health centre (PHC).

In 2022, Gloria Ajayi's joy knew no bounds when it was announced that the project would be constructed to improve access to quality healthcare in the area.

For long, women, children, and others in the area have experienced nightmares of getting quality healthcare. Gloria, a peasant farmer in the area, told Legit.ng she and others depend on herbal concoctions and services of private healthcare providers when they are sick.

Due to this, hopes blossomed when construction of the project, facilitated by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs Nigeria (OSSAP-SDGs), commenced.

But Gloria's hopes and those of other residents were dashed when the facility was abandoned after completion.

"It has remained this way since they completed it; no one has been able to use it. In this community, we live at death's mercy," Gloria lamented.


The multi-million naira project rotting away

The OSSAP-SDGs is responsible for the coordination and policy formulation of programmes designed to achieve the 2030 SDGs Agenda adopted by all United Nations member states in Nigeria. One core of the 17-point agenda adopted by countries in 2015 is good health and well-being.

On October 24, 2022, data from Govspend, an initiative of BudgIT, the Nigerian civic organisation promoting transparency and active citizen engagement, showed the OSSAP-SDGs paid the sum of ₦27,657,262.43 to Ocean Mines and Exploration Ltd to construct one 20-bed PHC with external works at Igbesa town in Ado-Ota LGA, Igbesa, Ogun state.

The same day, the OSSAP-SDGs paid ₦37,349,020.00 to the same company to equip the facility.

Findings by Legit.ng, however, showed that the facility – which should be a game-changer for residents in terms of quality health – is lying fallow.

Over a year after it was awarded and months after its completion, the project has yet to be commissioned.

When the reporter visited the project, parts of the facility had been taken over by bush.

A community leader in Igbesa, identified as Baba Pupa, said the project was designed to benefit residents from 15 areas, including Igbesa and Itekun.

He, however, lamented its non-utilisation after completion. "People have terrible experiences accessing healthcare due to the state of the project. The project was completed around 2022. There are around 15 communities expected to benefit from the project."

Apart from improving access to healthcare, many residents expected the facility to create job opportunities for them.

Sade, a trader in Igbesa, told Legit.ng: "We're on the lookout for jobs. Sadly, the place is now covered with bushes; it has been furnished. The facility would be of great benefit to us when it becomes functional. At least, cleaners, secretaries, gatemen, among others, will be engaged."


No single hospital, herbal concoction to the rescue: Welcome to Ogun

Chief Emmanuel Abiodun, the traditional ruler of Oke-Agbeji, a community in Itekun, is one of those who are livid over the non-utilisation of the project.

"We don't have a single functional government PHC here at the moment. We depend on patent and proprietary medicine vendors (PPMVs), also known as chemists and other private health care providers when we are sick," he lamented.

He said about 10 years ago, the community attempted to build a PHC through joint efforts, but the project did not materialise. Abiodun said the 20-bed PHC by the federal government would have benefited residents of Itekun and other surrounding communities, but its non-utilisation has left people vulnerable to sickness.

"We're not benefiting from it (the PHC), but God has not abandoned us. We're looking unto God. They have completed and fully equipped the project. What is left is the commissioning of the project, but you know the government, you cannot say when they will come," he added.

"The government only remembers this place when it's time for an election. Just imagine the state of the road you (addressing this reporter) used while coming here. We usually fix the roads ourselves. We are suffering."