Shock and outrage have gripped the people of Badagry following disturbing revelations about the deteriorating state of Pota Primary Health Centre (PHC), a once-vital government facility now overrun by snakes and crumbling from years of neglect.
The grim reality came to light after residents sent alarming photos and complaints to Badagry Today, prompting a visit to the health centre. What reporters found was heartbreaking — a structure barely recognizable as a medical facility, overtaken by reptiles and decay.
“We’ve killed more than 20 snakes inside this building recently,” a nurse revealed, speaking anonymously out of fear. “They’re everywhere — the labour room, doctor’s office, reception, toilets — nowhere is safe.”
The centre, which serves over 15 towns and 40 communities, is now a shell of its former self. Power supply is nonexistent. At night, nurses and midwives rely on candlelight and a single solar-powered bulb to carry out life-saving duties.
“How can you safely deliver a baby in 2025 by candlelight?” asked a visibly distraught staff member. “It’s a disgrace.”
A generator once donated by a nearby mosque has long since fallen silent due to lack of government-provided fuel. Letters and complaints sent to the Badagry Local Government have gone unanswered.
“They come here, nod their heads, and leave. That’s all. Nothing changes,” another staff member lamented.
The last real intervention at Pota PHC happened in 2021 — not by the government, but through the personal effort of Hon. Sesi Oluwaseun Whingan. His foundation donated basic equipment like beds, fans, and wheelchairs. Since then, silence.
“We’ve been abandoned,” said a nurse. “It’s like we don’t exist.”
Ironically, while Pota PHC falls into ruin, the same local government recently commissioned a new health centre in Ajido, just a few kilometres away. That move has sparked anger and confusion.
“Why build new ones when the existing ones are rotting?” a local resident questioned. “Fix what we have first!”
The crisis doesn’t end at the hospital’s doorstep. The Mowo–Ikoga–Zebbe Road — the main route to Pota PHC — is itself a nightmare. In disrepair for over a decade, the road becomes a death trap during the rainy season. Students have reportedly drowned trying to cross flooded sections.
“This road is our link to healthcare, education, and daily life,” a resident said. “But it’s been ignored for too long.”
This level of abandonment raises serious questions about the Lagos State Government’s commitment to its THEMES Plus Agenda, which promises inclusive development and better infrastructure for all. While Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has scored points in some parts of the state, the people of Badagry are still waiting to feel the impact.
“We’re not asking for too much,” said another resident. “We just want safe healthcare and roads that won’t kill us.”
Until urgent steps are taken, the people of Pota — and indeed all of Badagry — remain trapped in a deadly cycle of neglect.
