Thousands of residents of the Uhuodo community in Okehi Local Government Area, Kogi State, have reportedly been left without access to basic healthcare services, as their only Primary Health Care (PHC) facility has remained locked, abandoned, and non-functional for over ten years, according to a new report by civic tech organisation MonITNG.

The Tracka monitoring team’s visit to the Uhuodo PHC revealed a “deeply disturbing” state of neglect. The facility, meant to serve residents of Uhuodo and surrounding communities, has deteriorated over the years with no meaningful intervention from local, state, or federal authorities.

“For more than a decade, the Uhuodo community has had no access to functional primary healthcare, despite repeated government claims that health and education are top priorities,” the report stated.

The PHC was observed to be in severe disrepair, with visible signs of neglect. The Officer-in-Charge confirmed that multiple appeals had been made to authorities and elected representatives for urgent intervention, but no concrete action had followed. As a result, residents—including pregnant women, children, and the elderly—are forced to travel long distances or rely on unsafe alternatives for medical care.

The report highlighted that the closure of Uhuodo PHC comes in the context of the Federal Ministry of Health’s recent announcement of ₦32.9 billion released through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) to strengthen primary healthcare nationwide. MonITNG argued that while significant, this amount is insufficient to address widespread decay in healthcare infrastructure across Nigeria.

Across the country, many PHCs and public hospitals remain in deplorable conditions, with leaking roofs, broken beds, lack of essential drugs, shortages of health workers, unreliable electricity, and absence of clean water. In some areas, women give birth on bare floors, and patients must purchase basic medical supplies before receiving treatment.

MonITNG called for greater transparency and accountability, urging officials to provide a clear breakdown of BHCPF fund allocation and outcomes. The organisation also demanded urgent action from the Kogi State Government, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and federal authorities to reconstruct, equip, and reopen the Uhuodo PHC.

“Healthcare is a right, not a privilege. Nigerians deserve results, not rhetoric. Citizens, CSOs, and the media must remain vigilant and track every kobo meant for healthcare,” MonITNG emphasised.

For the residents of Uhuodo, the continued closure of their only PHC underscores the human cost of systemic failures in Nigeria’s primary healthcare system.