Shock and anger are mounting in Badagry following fresh revelations of a worsening health crisis at the Pota Primary Health Centre (PHC), a government-run facility now overrun by snakes and abandoned to rot. An investigation by Badagry Today has exposed appalling conditions at the centre, sparking public outrage and renewed calls for urgent government action.
Triggered by disturbing reports and photos from concerned locals, the publication’s visit to the PHC revealed a near-collapse of the facility. Once the primary source of healthcare for dozens of surrounding communities, the centre has deteriorated into a dangerous, snake-infested shell, unsafe for both staff and patients.
According to nurses who spoke under anonymity, more than 20 snakes have been killed inside the PHC in recent months. These reptiles have been found in the labour room, doctor’s office, laboratory, toilets, and even the reception area. “We see snakes everywhere,” one staff member said. “It’s terrifying.”
The centre serves over 15 towns and 40 communities, yet it currently functions without steady electricity. At night, medical personnel rely on candles and a single solar-powered bulb. A generator donated by a nearby mosque now lies idle — unusable due to the government’s failure to supply fuel.
“This place is in complete darkness. Imagine treating a patient or delivering a baby by candlelight in 2025,” a health worker lamented.
Despite repeatedly submitting written complaints to the Badagry Local Government — the designated supervisory authority — workers say nothing has been done. “They come. They inspect. They do nothing,” said another staff member.
The last meaningful intervention came in 2021, not from the government but through a private initiative by Hon. Sesi Oluwaseun Whingan, whose foundation donated essential items like beds, fans, and wheelchairs.
“Since then, not a single upgrade has come from the government. We’ve been left to decay,” a nurse added.
Ironically, while Pota PHC is falling apart, the Badagry Local Government recently commissioned a brand-new health centre in Ajido, another community in the area. The move has been criticised by residents who question the logic of starting new projects when existing ones are in crisis.
“Why are we building new centres when we can’t maintain the ones we have?” asked a concerned resident.
Beyond the PHC itself, access to the facility is also in jeopardy. The Mowo–Ikoga–Zebbe Road, the main artery leading to Pota, has been nearly impassable for over a decade. Despite repeated appeals, only temporary, poorly executed repairs have been carried out.
The road is vital to the region’s healthcare, schooling, and business, yet during the rainy season, it turns into a deadly hazard. Locals report tragic incidents, including the drowning of schoolchildren in flooded portions of the road.
This pattern of neglect directly contradicts Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES Plus Agenda, which pledges inclusive development across Lagos. While some parts of the state enjoy visible progress, the worsening conditions in Badagry expose a glaring disparity in government priorities.
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