By Bilesanmi Abayomi
The First Executive Secretary of Ikosi-Isheri LCDA, Chief Kazeem Afolabi, popularly known as ABK, has called for the immediate setup of a Maintenance Management Committee to ensure the sustainability of the newly commissioned 105-bed Primary Health Centre in the council.
L–R: Hon. Afolabi Kazeem (ABK), the pioneer Executive Secretary of Ikosi-Isheri LCDA, with the Onishangisha of Shangisha, during the commissioning of the 105-bed Primary Health Centre in the council area on June 9, 2025.
ABK made the call during an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the commissioning ceremony on Wednesday. The state-of-the-art facility, which has been widely hailed for its scale and equipment, was recently inaugurated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, and is the largest of its kind in Nigeria.
According to ABK, while the facility is a laudable achievement, there are valid concerns about long-term sustainability, especially regarding staffing, usage, and equipment maintenance.
“If you have the equipment and don’t have qualified people to use or maintain it, it becomes a waste of public funds,” he warned. “This is why I’m advising that the council sets up a dedicated committee for proper management, or even consider liaising with the state government to take over the facility in due time.”
He noted that operating a facility of this magnitude would require at least five specialist doctors, numerous nurses, and other skilled personnel—resources that might strain the financial capacity of a local council.
“This hospital deserves to be managed at the highest professional standard. It has everything—from ICU, gynaecology, a pharmacy, to a modern theatre. It’s essentially a general hospital.”
The former administrator revealed that he had visited the facility multiple times prior to the commissioning, including a pre-commissioning inspection with his wife, a PhD-holder in Nursing, who also shared recommendations on hospital administration with the council leadership.
ABK lauded Mayoress Samiat Abolanle Bada, the Executive Chairman of the council, for delivering what he described as “a hospital of global standards” to the people of Ikosi-Isheri.
“The community is truly blessed to have this. We are beginning to see the dividends of democracy at the grassroots level,” he said.
He urged the public to take full ownership of the facility, stressing its value in serving essential health needs such as childbirth, emergencies, and routine care for all residents, especially women and children.
Beyond healthcare, ABK encouraged the council to continue addressing infrastructure needs across all wards. He highlighted ongoing community demands for smaller clinics in underserved areas like Ajegunle and Isheri, suggesting two- or three-room primary care centres tailored to local population sizes.
On youth development, he commended the council for the ongoing construction of a sports arena that will feature a football pitch, tennis court, and swimming pool. He noted the facility’s potential to promote talent discovery and youth engagement.
“Infrastructure development is a continuous process. What we have seen today should not be the end, but a stepping stone to more responsive governance.”
ABK concluded by urging the council to maintain its momentum and ensure that future projects also reflect the real needs of constituents across all wards.