Gaun Community in Ogun State cries out for basic services

Residents and community leaders in Gaun Community, Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, are unhappy about the lack of basic services. They want better facilities like a good school, a hospital, and better roads.

During a visit on Tuesday, our correspondent heard their concerns. The road that connects Gaun Community to Magboro in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area is in terrible shape and filled with potholes. The community also does not have a primary health care centre.

Residents told our correspondent that they had set aside land for the construction of the health centre. They also wrote letters to Ifo LGA and the state government, but nothing has happened.

The only government school in the area is a primary school that started in 1950. Our correspondent saw that it is struggling to meet the needs of the community.

Ebenezer Adekunle, the youth leader, shared his worries with our correspondent. He said the primary school does not have qualified teachers. Because of this, community members have to hire teachers to keep the school running.

He also mentioned that the bad road has hurt local businesses. People find it hard to travel and carry out commercial activities.

Adekunle said, "We have been forgotten in this community. Our road is bad and we don’t have a hospital. The only school we have is the community primary school that was built in 1950. It was one honourable that recently helped to renovate one of the buildings.

"When the community realized that it was difficult for pupils to attend secondary schools in neighbouring communities after completing primary education, we decided to build a secondary school ourselves, but we have not been able to complete it. The school currently has about 150 students.

"The road has affected businesses and commercial activities, and we travel long distances to access healthcare. We either go to Magboro or Ifo before we can receive medical attention."

Another community leader, Ismaila Adewunmi, said residents often travel many kilometres to get healthcare, which is risky. He added that they have asked the Ifo Local Government to recognize the community-built secondary school and improve it, but there has been no response.

Adewunmi said, "What we are suffering in this community is enormous. We lack good roads, there is no health centre and whenever anyone falls ill, we have to take them as far as Magboro in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area, which ought not to be the case.

"We also lack schools. Community members and the Community Development Association have been making efforts to ensure that the only primary school continues to function. We have written letters and visited the Ifo Local Government several times, but nothing has been done.

"The road has greatly affected us. Vehicle owners sometimes cannot use their vehicles because the road is in terrible condition. Our children often trek several kilometres to Magboro before they can attend secondary school."

Adewunmi asked the government to help fix the problems in the community to improve life for residents.

Another resident, who gave her name as Iyabo, told our correspondent that the lack of a security post in the community has made things worse. She said criminals often hang around the community school at night, which raises security issues.

"Because there are no doors and no fence, once pupils leave the school, hoodlums and other criminals use the place as a hideout," she said.

Iyabo added that government officials only come to the community during election seasons. She called on the Ifo Local Government and the Ogun State Government to support them.

Our attempts to get comments from Kayode Akinmade, the Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, on Wednesday were unsuccessful as his phone was unreachable. The Chairman of Ifo Local Government Area, Idris Kushimo, also could not be reached as his phone was switched off.