Residents of Apakila and 25 surrounding communities in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State have raised concerns over the absence of basic healthcare services, describing access to medical care as a fairytale despite the existence of an unutilised facility.
Abandoned PHC Project Sparks Outcry
Community members say a Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) constructed about nine years ago within Apakila Primary School has never been commissioned or equipped for medical use. Instead, the structure has reportedly been converted into an administrative block, leaving its original purpose unfulfilled.
According to residents, the development has denied thousands of people access to essential and life-saving health services, particularly in emergencies.
Residents Forced to Travel Long Distances
With no functional PHC in the area, locals say they are compelled to travel long distances often at significant cost and risk to access even basic medical care.
“What was meant to serve as a lifeline for the communities has since been repurposed into an administrative block for the school, never serving the purpose for which it was built,” the report stated.
Call for Government Intervention
The affected communities have appealed to Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, and the Federal Ministry of Health Nigeria to urgently facilitate the construction and equipping of functional healthcare facilities across the area.
They stressed that restoring access to primary healthcare is critical to improving public health and reducing preventable deaths in the communities.
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