Though located just a few hours from Lagos, Nigeria’s economic epicentre, Igbokofi—a remote village in Ogun State—remains marooned in neglect, particularly in terms of access to healthcare. In this in-depth report, SEGUN ODUNAYO visits the rural community to shed light on the quiet but devastating health crisis that has left residents with little choice but to cross international borders for basic medical care.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

For Folake Olaniyi, a resident of Igbokofi, the trauma of losing her baby and her womb due to complications during childbirth remains a haunting memory—even seven years later.

In 2017, Olaniyi was thrilled to learn she was expecting a boy. But the lack of a functional health facility in her village turned her joy into tragedy. After enduring hours of agony and multiple transfers between villages lacking adequate medical infrastructure, her baby was delivered stillborn. She narrowly survived after being rushed to Abeokuta, only to later discover her womb had been irreparably damaged and removed.

Her story is not isolated.

Elder Idowu Bamgbose recounts how his daughter-in-law died in 2021 after labour complications, due to the absence of trained medical personnel and proper facilities. Many others—including Tosin Ayeni, Silifat Kudebi, and Maria Ogunyomi—have died under similar circumstances, according to local resident Kunle Garb, who highlighted the prevalence of quack medical practitioners exploiting the health vacuum.

In a desperate bid for survival, many villagers now travel across the border to the Benin Republic. Ruth Bamgbose, the village chief’s wife, says residents seek everything from injections to basic medications there, despite inflated costs for Nigerians.

A once-functional health centre in Igbokofi fell into disuse after roof damage caused by bat infestation rendered the building unsanitary. Residents abandoned it, and the government ceased supply of medical essentials.

Another facility, built by the National Boundary Commission in 2004, remains unused due to a lack of equipment and staffing.

Ogun State Health Commissioner, Dr Tomi Coker, attributed the recruitment difficulties to the region’s remoteness, adding that health facilities erected without government consultation often lack sustainability due to poor planning.

Experts agree the country needs over 30,000 primary healthcare centres to meet community needs, but most rural populations remain underserved. Nigeria’s maternal mortality rate remains among the highest globally, with the country falling far short of recommended healthcare spending benchmarks.

As women in Igbokofi continue to die from preventable childbirth complications, the community’s reliance on neighbouring countries for care is a grim indictment of the nation’s failing rural health system.

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