By Segun Odunayo
The Ogun State Government has commenced construction of a primary healthcare centre for the Igbokorfi Community in Yewa North Local Government Area.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place on Monday, following a report by The PUNCH highlighting the lack of a functional health facility, which had contributed to the deaths of women in the community in May 2025.
After the report, the community donated two plots of land in November 2025, responding to the local government’s commitment to building the facility.
The ceremony was performed by the Chairman of Yewa North Local Government, Dr. Olusola Akinbode, to the admiration of residents of all ages.
Speaking with our correspondent at the event, Akinbode said he was directed by the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, to ensure the construction of the health centre.
“The media, through PUNCH Newspaper, reported that our people were suffering due to the lack of a health facility, and this began our conversation on the matter. Also, we took action because Igbokorfi is situated at the boundary between Nigeria (in Yewa North) and the Benin Republic, and people often go to Benin to seek medical attention. This prompted Governor Dapo Abiodun to direct us, as a local government, to visit Igbokorfi and ensure their needs are met.
“Today, we have not only addressed their need for a health centre, we have also met their need for water. We have conducted the groundbreaking ceremony, and in the next three to four weeks, the project will be completed,” he said.
Also speaking, the regent of the community, Chief Alani Bamgbose, expressed gratitude to both the governor and the chairman for making the project a reality.
“This is a thing of joy for us. We are thankful to the governor and the local government chairman for bringing this health centre to us. The chairman has told us that the building will be completed in a few weeks, and we are happy to hear that.
“We cannot quantify our joy. We are very happy with this project because we have had to take our pregnant women for delivery in the Benin Republic, and sometimes they die before we get there,” he said.
Bamgbose added that the community still needs a good road network and appealed to the government for assistance.
“Our roads are very bad, and we hope the government will help us construct them as well,” he added.
Speaking on behalf of the women, Madam Christiana said they were the most appreciative of the health centre, as they had been the most affected by its absence.
“We, the women, are the happiest. We have faced many challenges, especially during pregnancy. Once any woman becomes pregnant in this community, we become worried because we do not have a functional health facility. We are often taken to the Benin Republic to give birth, and many times we have lost pregnant women.
“Sometimes, the women survive but lose their babies. That is why we are grateful to God for the commencement of this project,” she said.
Pastor Kunle Garb, an activist and leading advocate for the health centre, also appreciated the government and PUNCH Newspaper, noting that just weeks ago, a pregnant woman died while on her way to give birth in another village.
“This project will put an end to many challenges we face. In fact, three weeks ago, we lost a pregnant woman on her way to Aiyetoro to deliver because we do not have a proper health facility here. Two months ago, we almost lost a boy in this community due to lack of medical care,” he said.
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