By Bilesanmi Abayomi
The Police Area Command under construction in Ikenne, Ogun State, and the proposed Soname Memorial Cancer Centre will cost approximately ₦300 million and ₦8 billion respectively, according to the project manager, Afolabi Kazeem.
Kazeem disclosed this following the foundation-laying ceremonies for the two projects initiated by Kunle Soname as part of activities marking his 60th birthday.
Providing a breakdown of the costs, Kazeem explained that the Police Area Command project, which includes office spaces and residential accommodation for officers, will cover approximately 1,029 square metres. The office complex alone spans about 509 square metres, while the residential component occupies roughly 520 square metres.
He noted that the facility, estimated at ₦300 million, is expected to be completed by the end of October 2026 and commissioned in early November, coinciding with the annual Ereke Day celebration in Ikenne.
On the cancer centre, kazeem described the project as significantly larger in scale, sitting on about 11,000 square metres of land. He revealed that the construction component alone is projected to cost about ₦4 billion over an estimated two-year period.
According to him, medical equipment for the facility is valued at approximately ₦3 billion, bringing the total projected cost to about ₦8 billion upon completion.
“The scale of this project reflects a long-term vision. The planning has been ongoing for nearly two years, including architectural designs, procurement processes, and regulatory approvals,” Kareem said.
He further revealed that the cancer centre project was inspired by a personal loss experienced by Soname, noting that the businessman had resolved to establish a facility that would help reduce deaths from cancer and improve access to treatment within Nigeria.
Kazeem added that most of the required medical equipment has already been procured and would be installed once construction reaches an advanced stage. He confirmed that necessary approvals have also been obtained from relevant health authorities.
Highlighting the broader impact of the project, he noted that the cancer centre is expected to help reduce Nigeria’s dependence on medical tourism for oncology care, while offering subsidised treatment to patients.
On the police facility, Kazeem explained that the project was initiated following a request by the Ikenne community to the Inspector-General of Police for the establishment of an Area Command, citing rapid urban and industrial growth in the axis, particularly between Sagamu and Ikenne.
He noted that the expansion of industrial activities in the area has increased the need for enhanced security infrastructure.
Kazeem also commended Soname’s philanthropic commitment, describing the projects as impactful interventions that would benefit both the local community and the country at large.