UDEME

By Zainab Adewale In 2019, the Osun State government spent N35 million to rehabilitate Ifetedo General Hospital, a rural Osun State community healthcare facility. The funds were aimed at improving healthcare services and accessibility for the community's residents. However, investigation reveals that the hospital is not living up to its potential, with inadequate staffing and limited operating hours causing frustration and concern among residents.

In April, 2022, when staff and pupils of the St John’s Primary School Ijako Orile in Egbado-North local government area of Ogun state, saw construction workers on site in April, their eyes gleamed with optimism. The school was in dire need of more classrooms. The school had only three sore-looking, dilapidated blocks of three classrooms each, one of which was already abandoned. The one being used by the estimated 200 pupils had cracked walls and its yellow painting waned.

Seven months after UDEME — a social accountability initiative,  reported the sordid state of the Ondo township stadium, the Redeemed Christain Church of God (RCCG) has announced plans to renovate the stadium in honour of its founder, Pa Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi. In April, UDEME reported that the stadium built in 1976 had no roof as the roofing sheet, which was installed, had been blown off by rainstorm.

The excitement felt by residents of Owode community in Ede, Osun state, following the construction of a police station in the area seems to have evaporated. Months after its completion, the facility has remained locked without use. To improve the security situation in the area, the police station was nominated as part of constituency projects nominated by Bamidele Salam, the lawmaker representing Ede/Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal Constituency.

His wrinkled face, a mishmash of age and disappointment, was vivid enough to tell his story. Sitting in his wooden kiosk, Ademola Kazeem shared his experience trading and eventually quitting the Ayegbaju International Market in Osogbo. “The government changed the agreement and promises. That is why we left,” Mr Ademola said as he munched a chunk of Akara in frustration.

Two primary healthcare centres (PHC) were built in 2019, to cater for the medical needs of the people of Igbara-Odo community, Ekiti South West local government area of Ekiti State. But years later, the multimillion naira health facilities built with public funds, remain locked up and unavailable for use by the community’s over 70 thousand residents.

Following a report by UDEME, the Osun state government has opened the doctors quarters at the State Specialist Hospital, Asubiaro in Osogbo, the state’s capital, for use. In 2019, the Osun state government initiated the construction of a 30-unit housing project to accommodate graduate doctors who were undergoing their one-year mandatory internship at the specialist hospital. The project, valued at N130.6 million naira, was awarded to Dotfam Multiventures Limited.

Time and time again, promises were made. Time and yet, time and again, ‘work’ started, but the Uyo Township Stadium remains the same: an abandoned and decaying edifice. For many years,  the stadium served as the pride of Akwa Ibom. It was the homeground of local club, Akwa United. It also served as an event ground for the Christmas carol celebration which draws people from all parts of the state and some tourist attractions for residents. All these are now gone.

Four months after UDEME — a social accountability project of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) reported on the dilapidated state of the abandoned Akure Civic Centre, nothing has been done to complete the project. In June, UDEME reported how the Akure Civic Centre, initiated for community development and skills acquisition, has been abandoned and taken over by bushes, eroding the high optimism felt by residents when construction commenced in 2018.

The Akwa Ibom State Government has flagged-off the reconstruction of the Uyo Township Stadium, including the construction of a swimming pool. This comes barely a month after UDEME reported on the sordid condition of the stadium which used to host quality sporting events and other high-value ceremonies in the state, like the famed Akwa Ibom Christmas Carol Festival. UDEME’s visit to the stadium in September revealed the stemming from many years of neglect.