The untimely death of Tayo Oluwatuyi, Ondo State’s Secretary to the State Government (SSG), has exposed the dismal state of healthcare in the state.
Popularly known as “Tukana,” Oluwatuyi’s passing has left the state in mourning and serves as a grim reminder of the urgent need to overhaul its healthcare infrastructure.
Oluwatuyi suffered severe injuries in a car accident on his way to Ibadan. Despite being rushed to a hospital, his chances of survival were severely compromised by the absence of critical diagnostic equipment like CT scan and MRI machines in Ondo.
Consequently, he had to be transferred to the Afe Babalola Teaching Hospital in Ado Ekiti for a CT scan and later to the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital in Ile-Ife for treatment.
The delays caused by these transfers are a testament to the glaring inadequacies in the state’s healthcare system.
This avoidable tragedy highlights the consequences of Ondo State’s crumbling healthcare infrastructure. Medical emergencies require swift responses, but the state’s system, once celebrated during Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s tenure, has been allowed to deteriorate.
Mimiko’s Abiye programme, which significantly improved maternal and child healthcare, has been left to decline. Today, many primary and secondary healthcare centres in Ondo are in deplorable conditions, lacking basic equipment, drugs, and personnel.
Since Mimiko’s departure, successive administrations have neglected the healthcare sector, leaving residents to grapple with the consequences. For those who cannot afford private healthcare or treatment abroad, the result is often fatal. Oluwatuyi’s death underscores the need for urgent intervention to prevent further loss of lives in Ondo State.
The issues in Ondo are not isolated but part of a larger national crisis. Across Nigeria, many lives are lost daily due to inadequate healthcare facilities. The increasing reliance on medical tourism, which drains billions annually, highlights the failure of the country’s healthcare system. While the wealthy can afford treatment abroad, ordinary Nigerians are left to suffer in silence.
Healthcare is not the only sector in Ondo State in decline. The education system is in shambles. Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s administration has failed to address critical issues in education, with his government making no meaningful impact over the past year.
In August 2024, the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) announced plans to recruit 2,000 teachers, giving hope to job seekers and schools. However, this promise remains unfulfilled, leaving classrooms overcrowded and understaffed.
The state’s infrastructure tells a similar story of neglect. Roads are in terrible condition, access to potable water is limited, and public utilities are in disarray.
While Governor Aiyedatiwa recently approved road rehabilitation across the state, these projects are overdue and were initially awarded under his predecessor, the late Oluwarotimi Akeredolu. Many of these contracts remain unexecuted.
Governor Aiyedatiwa’s focus on political manoeuvring and intra-party conflicts has diverted attention from the state’s pressing issues. This lack of direction has left Ondo on the brink of collapse.
Starnews NG says Oluwatuyi’s death should be a turning point. The government must prioritise providing essential diagnostic equipment in public hospitals and strengthening the healthcare system.
We believe that the billions being spent by the state on the judiciary building complex could be better invested in improving the health sector. This would significantly benefit the well-being of the state’s residents and enhance their healthcare services.
It is also our opinion in Starnews NG that the recruitment of teachers must be fast-tracked to address the gaps in education, while deliberate investments in infrastructure are critical.
Governance is about improving the quality of life for citizens. The Aiyedatiwa administration must rise to the challenge and address the failings in healthcare, education, and infrastructure. The death of a prominent figure like Oluwatuyi should serve as a wake-up call for urgent action to prevent further avoidable tragedies.
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