Badagry West Chairman’s Attempt to Discredit Report Backfires After Health Centre Found in Ruins
The newly sworn-in Chairman of Badagry West Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Rauf Ibrahim Kayode, has come under public scrutiny after attempting to disprove a viral report on the poor state of local healthcare facilities only to inadvertently confirm its accuracy during a live broadcast.
The original report accused former council chairman Gbenu Joseph of neglecting basic healthcare infrastructure while using public funds to construct a cemetery. In response, Kayode, who previously served as Joseph’s vice chairman for eight years, visited one of the primary healthcare centres (PHCs) in Ward A (Asheri), attempting to prove the report false.
During a Facebook live stream, Kayode confidently stated, “We renovated this PHC when I was Vice Chairman. The report going around is false.” However, upon entering the facility, he was visibly shocked to discover that a section of the roof was missing.
When he inquired about the damage, a staff member informed him, “Termites ate the wood. We told the doctor, who informed the authorities.” Shortly after, a visibly unsettled Kayode allegedly ordered the live video to be cut off.
Despite efforts to dismiss the claims, the failed rebuttal only confirmed public concerns about the dilapidated condition of the Primary Health Centres (PHCs). One of the two PHCs in Ward A has reportedly been abandoned for over a decade due to a bat infestation, while the other suffers from broken beds, open roofs, and inadequate staffing.
A resident told SaharaReporters, “There are only eight primary schools and four PHCs serving over 99 communities in Badagry West. No private hospitals exist. Yet, instead of fixing health centres, they built a cemetery for a valedictory event.”
Photos accompanying the report show leaking roofs and flooded interiors, painting a dire picture of public healthcare in the area.
