The Federal Government’s 80-bed Mother and Child Specialist Hospital in Pakiotan, Ogbomoso, has suffered yet another round of heavy vandalization, drawing outrage from community leaders and residents.
The facility, equipped with beds, drugs, laboratory equipment, and other medical consumables, was designed to serve as an urban health center. It was facilitated by former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Oloye Sunday Dare, completed and commissioned on May 27, 2023, and subsequently handed over to the Federal Ministry of Health through the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.
Speaking with journalists at the hospital premises, the Onipakiotan of Pakiotan, Oba Dr. James Oyetunji Ojo, condemned the incident, describing it as “economic subversion” that undermines community development.
“The destruction of this infrastructure has become a major concern for the community and requires urgent and coordinated action. We must ensure that those who willfully destroy or vandalize public property are held accountable. As the saying goes, offenders must be brought to book — or the book brought to them,” the monarch stated.
Oba Oyetunji Ojo recalled that before the commissioning, some cables had been vandalized and were replaced by Hon. Dare. “But since the handover, nothing has been happening here. We have no access to the facility and there’s no security. Recently, we noticed signs of intrusion, and when one of Hon. Dare’s aides joined us to inspect the site, we were shocked to discover that all the cables, 150 solar batteries, electrical appliances, ceiling fans, and other valuable items had been removed,” he lamented.
The monarch added that the land for the hospital — eight plots — was released by the community to bring quality maternal and child healthcare closer to the people of Ogbomoso and its environs. However, the facility has remained idle for more than a year after commissioning.
He urged UCH and the Ministry of Health to either commence operations immediately or hand the hospital over to the community for proper management. “If the hospital had been put to use, such incidents would not have happened,” he said.
Chairman of Ogbomoso North Local Government, Hon. Ogunlade George Gbadegesin, also expressed disappointment, recalling that UCH management visited in September 2024 and promised to begin operations in October, a commitment yet to be honored.
“So many valuable medical items have been looted, and others are at risk. We will engage security personnel to safeguard what remains until the hospital is finally put into use,” he stated.
Oloye Ademola Olawale , an aide to the former minister explained that the he on behalf of the Agbaakin of Ogbomosoland has consistently in torch been UCH to let them come and start operation but they kept giving excuses and promises.
