By Badagry Today Reporter There was shock and outrage this week as Badagry Today uncovered a deeply disturbing health crisis at the Pota Pr...
By Badagry Today Reporter
There was shock and outrage this week as Badagry Today uncovered a deeply disturbing health crisis at the Pota Primary Health Centre in Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos State — a government-owned hospital now overrun by snakes and left in a state of complete decay.
The revelation followed reports from concerned residents who sent photographs of snakes allegedly killed inside the hospital premises. Determined to verify the claims, Badagry Today visited the PHC and found a dilapidated structure that no longer resembled a functioning healthcare facility.
  What stood in place of the supposed hospital was a crumbling, snake-infested ruin — barely fit to be called a shelter, let alone a medical centre. |
According to nurses who spoke on condition of anonymity, over 20 snakes have been killed inside the building in recent months. The reptiles have reportedly been spotted in nearly every part of the facility — from the labour room and doctor's office to the reception, laboratory, and even toilets.
“This place is a disaster. It’s unsafe. Many of us no longer come for night duties. Who wants to die in a snake-infested hospital with no electricity?” one nurse lamented.
No Light, No Safety — Candlelight Deliveries in 2025 in Lagos State Health Facility?
The facility, which serves over 15 towns and 40 communities, now functions without a constant power supply. Staff are forced to rely on candles and a small solar-powered bulb at night. Though a mosque in the area once donated a generator, it has long been abandoned due to a lack of fuel from the authorities.
“This hospital is in darkness,” another staff member said. “How can anyone deliver a baby or treat a patient by candlelight in 2025?”
Medical personnel revealed that numerous letters and complaints have been submitted to Badagry Local Government — the body responsible for the PHC — but nothing has been done.
“They come. They nod. They leave. That’s all. Nothing changes,” one frustrated nurse explained.
The last notable upgrade to the facility came in 2021 — not from the government, but from Hon. Sesi Oluwaseun Whingan through his private charity, the Sesi Whingan Foundation. The foundation donated medical beds, wheelchairs, fans, benches, and other essentials.
“Since that intervention, not a single improvement has come from the government. We’ve been left to rot,” a staff member said.
A New Health Centre While the Old One Dies
Ironically, Badagry Local Government recently commissioned a new health centre in Ajido, a community a in Badagry. This move has sparked confusion and criticism among residents who wonder why new projects are prioritized while existing facilities like Pota PHC are left to decay.
“Of what use is a new health centre when the ones we already have are crumbling? Shouldn’t we fix what we have before building new ones?” asked a local resident.
The hospital’s problems are only part of a broader crisis. The Mowo–Ikoga-Zebbe Road, which leads directly to Pota PHC, has been in deplorable condition for over a decade. Despite countless appeals to the Lagos State Government, only half-hearted palliatives have been applied — doing little to ease transportation or ensure safety.
For many residents, the road is a vital lifeline to health, education, and commerce. But during the rainy season, it becomes a death trap. There have even been reports of students drowning while trying to cross flooded sections of the road.
This level of neglect starkly contrasts with the promises of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES Plus Agenda, which pledges inclusive infrastructure development. While the Governor has achieved progress in other parts of Lagos, the situation in Badagry remains a glaring shortfall on his administration’s scorecard.
Leaders Under Fire — Who’s Responsible?
Local leaders are facing growing scrutiny. Outgoing Chairman of Badagry Local Government, Hon. Segun Onilude, has been praised for projects such as road constructions, hospital upgrades, and the modernization of Badagry Town Hall. Yet, residents of Ward I — headquartered in Ikoga-Zebbe — are asking tough questions: Why were they left behind? Why has the only health facility serving over 40 communities been ignored?
Though Hon. Sesi Whingan is credited for his past intervention, many now urge him to return and help again. Some residents speculate that his earlier involvement was tied to electoral ambitions, and are calling for sustained engagement beyond campaign seasons.
Other prominent figures have also been called out. Hon. Setonji David, Deputy Chief Whip of the Lagos State House of Assembly, is being urged to do more. Though considered an effective representative, many believe the condition of Pota PHC is a dark stain on his record.
Hon. Avoseh Hodewu Suru, who served for eight years as a Commissioner in the Lagos State Civil Service Commission, has been criticized for not using his influence to draw attention to the deteriorating health centre — even though it serves his own hometown of Erekiti and surrounding areas.
Although Hon. Solomon Saanu Bonu does not represent the immediate area, residents point to his track record of facilitating development outside his own constituency and believe he could still play a role in pushing for change.
Perhaps the most damning silence is from current cabinet members in the Lagos State Government who hail from Badagry. These include Hon. Ibrahim Layode, Commissioner for Home Affairs and a four-term Assembly member, and Hon. Mobolaji Ogunlende, Commissioner for Youth and Social Development.
With their deep political roots and influence, many believe these leaders have the capacity — and responsibility — to act. Yet, their silence on the crisis at Pota PHC has left many disillusioned.
“Can they truly say they don’t know what’s happening in their backyard?” asked one local activist. “This is not just neglect. It’s betrayal.”
Only Hon. Lateef Yahaya, who spent just six months as a Commissioner at the Civil Service Commission, has been largely excused from criticism.
A Tragedy in Slow Motion
At its core, the state of Pota PHC is more than a healthcare failure — it is a reflection of systemic neglect and governance breakdown. In a region with such rich history and enormous potential, the abandonment of its primary health facility is a deep and enduring shame.
Unless political office holders — at both local and state levels — rise to the occasion, the people of Badagry will continue to suffer in Silence. Until then, snakes and shadows will rule what was once a beacon of healthcare in Badagry.
Chat sent to the Chairman of Badagry Local Government, Hon. Onilude Segun Adeniran — the primary government functionary responsible — to get his reaction on the outcry over neglect at Pota PHC proved futile, as the messages were ignored.
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