By Bilesanmi Abayomi
The Founder of BetNaija, Hon. Kunle Soname, has spent about ₦300 million on the construction and furnishing of the Ikenne Area Police Command in Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State, as part of efforts to strengthen security in the community.
The Project Manager, Mr Afolabi Kazeem, popularly known as ABK, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with Kosofe Post on Thursday, on the sidelines of the commissioning of the facility.
Kazeem, a former administrator of Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area (LCDA), said the completed facility had been handed over to the representative of the Inspector-General of Police to improve security and police operations in the area.
He explained that the complex occupies about 950 square metres and comprises an office building covering approximately 500 square metres, accommodation for police officers with 10 rooms covering about 350 square metres, and a two-bedroom residence for the Area Commander measuring approximately 105 square metres.
He added that the facility was still being equipped, with additional equipment expected to cost about ₦50 million, bringing the total project expenditure to approximately ₦300 million.
According to Kazeem, construction began with a groundbreaking ceremony on April 26, 2026, and was completed within the projected six-and-a-half-month period.
“The Ikenne Area Command is another edifice by Hon. Kunle Soname, and we thank God it has been well executed and completed within the stipulated period of six and a half months.
“This was the promise made by Soname to the command that he would provide a befitting office and accommodation. We had promised to deliver it by the first week of November, and we thank God that we have kept our promise,” he said.
Kazeem disclosed that the complex comprises three buildings named in honour of members of Soname’s family and Remo Stars Football Club. The first building was named after Soname’s late father, Pa Soname, while the second was named after Pa Odumosu, his wife’s father. The Area Commander’s two-bedroom residence was named after Remo Stars FC.
He acknowledged that the project encountered some challenges but said the construction process went smoothly, particularly because there were no difficulties securing funds for its completion.
Explaining the rationale behind the project, Kazeem said the community had requested an Area Command, which received approval from the Federal Government, amid growing development and investment in Ikenne and neighbouring communities.
He cited the establishment of an airport at Ilesan, opposite Ikenne, as well as the emergence of factories and new investments in the area, as factors that increased the need for stronger security infrastructure.
“The essence of this facility is to provide more protection so that people will not live in fear. It will also help deter criminals from the community,” he said.
Update on ₦10bn Cancer Centre
Kazeem also provided an update on the cancer centre project Soname pledged to establish for the community during his 60th birthday celebration in April.
He said work was ongoing, adding that four bunker structures had been awarded to a contractor and that the foundation work was almost complete.
According to him, the bunker construction is one of the most technically demanding stages of the project because it requires a concrete slab approximately three metres thick to contain the radiation equipment safely.
“This is the most complex aspect, and that is where we have a concrete slab of about three metres so that the radiation from the machine will not escape,” he said.
Kazeem said the bunker construction alone had been awarded for more than ₦1 billion, while the entire cancer centre project was estimated to cost ₦7 billion. He added that the cost could rise to approximately ₦10 billion when hospital equipment is included.
He explained that work on other structures would progress after the bunker foundations had been completed, expressing confidence that the cancer centre, including the hospital facilities, would be completed within one year.
“By the grace of God, by 2027, it will be fully completed,” he said.