Owolabi Oluwatobi, Yakub Azeezat, Salako Kayode & Ogunmefun Taiwo
Onijanganjangan, a quiet Fulani settlement just nine kilometres from Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, looks like a village frozen in time. Hidden behind the Technology Incubation Centre along the Abeokuta–Lagos Expressway, the settlement is home to about 60 residents who survive on cattle rearing, yoghurt production, and subsistence farming.
The recent visit revealed that, beyond its pastoral charm lies a story of deprivation.
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the village, founded in 2007 by nomadic Fulani families, has no school, no clinic, no electricity, and no legal security of tenure.
Further findings showed that its residents are forbidden from building permanent structures — a condition imposed by authorities when they were allowed to occupy the land nearly two decades ago.
“We are not allowed to do any modern permanent structures or even dig our own well as a result of the agreement to vacate when the need arises in the future,” explained Iya Ibeji, a 47-year-old yoghurt maker and mother of twins.
She added “we even begged to be allowed to build a small room and parlour with corrugated iron sheets, but they refused.”
Her words capture the paradox of a Fulani community living so close to Ogun State’s capital yet locked out of modernity.
… Building On Borrowed Land, Living On Borrowed Time
According to some of the residents, Onijanganjangan began in 2007 with just five bamboo huts (locally called Gaas).
But, as at the time of visiting the place, there are between 12 and 15 huts, still built with bamboo and thatch, scattered across thick vegetation.
Despite nearly two decades of habitation, residents live with the constant reminder that their homes are temporary. With no right to construct permanent housing, families remain trapped in fragile huts, vulnerable to rain, fire, and the scorching sun.
“We live in bamboo huts, how can we have electricity? We also want brick houses with corrugated roofs like you do,” lamented one mother.
… Daily Struggles: Yoghurt, Farming, Cattle Rustling
Life at the Onijanganjangan Fulani settlement is defined by survival. It was observed that families rely on cattle, yoghurt (fura/waara), and crops such as cassava, maize, and vegetables.
It was learnt that Chinese manufacturers occasionally visit the settlement to buy locally fermented milk for condensed and powdered milk production. But despite this rare link to global commerce, poverty remains entrenched.
Security adds to their woes. Cattle rustlers have struck before, robbing families of their most prized assets.
“Our cows were stolen once, but we know it was not Yoruba people. We live peacefully here,” a father of three said.
… Nollywood’s Hidden Treasure
Paradoxically,what government neglects, Nollywood celebrates. The natural scenery, bamboo huts, and unspoiled vegetation have turned Onijanganjangan into a film hub.
PLATFORM TIMES reports that Yoruba movie stars including Odunlade Adekola, Segun Ogungbe, Sanyeri, and Ibrahim Chatta have filmed blockbusters like Jenrola, Return of President Kuti, and Eyemi in the village.
For the residents, movie shoots provide rare excitement. Children and adults gather to watch films shot in their backyards, creating an unusual cultural bridge between a forgotten Fulani community and Nigeria’s booming film industry.
… Education: A Distant Dream
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that there is no school in Onijanganjangan. Children trek to Obada or Ile-Ise Awo, several kilometres away, to attend classes. Many drop out due to distance and poverty.
“Some of our children never complete primary school because we can’t afford to keep sending them far,” one villager said.
According to UNICEF, 10.5 million Nigerian children are out of school, the highest in the world. Onijanganjangan’s children are part of this grim statistic, left behind despite living a short drive from Abeokuta.
… Healthcare: One Bike, One Taxi, Herbal Mixtures
The residents lament that with no health centre, medical emergencies in Onijanganjangan rely on fragile human networks.
“When someone falls sick, we call the bike man or the taxi man we know. Otherwise, we use herbs,” a father of three explained.
“Minor illnesses are treated with agbo (herbal concoctions), while serious cases depend on the goodwill of a motorcyclist or a taxi driver who ferries patients to the nearest clinic in Obada.”
Available data indicated that Nigeria spends just 3.9% of its GDP on healthcare — far below the 15% Abuja Declaration target. Onijanganjangan exemplifies the consequences of this underfunding.
… Water, Electricity: Shared, Borrowed, Absent
Even water is not theirs. The villagers depend on boreholes from neighbouring communities, who sometimes ration supply. Electricity is non-existent.
Residents said they either travel to Iyana Eleja to charge phones or use petrol generators sparingly.
… A Community Of Faith, Resilience
The settlement is predominantly Muslim. Ramadan and Ileya festivals remain central to their identity, while leadership is informal, with elders mediating disputes.
The visit further revealed that Onijanganjangan is not just one village; it mirrors the fate of countless rural communities across Nigeria.
Their problems which include land tenure insecurity leaves the families unable to invest in permanent housing. Infrastructure gaps cut them off from education, health, and electricity.
PLATFORM TIMES reports that despite contributing to local markets and Nigeria’s cultural economy through Nollywood, they remain forgotten.
After interacting with the residents, it was discovered that behind the huts are children longing for classrooms, mothers praying for safer births, and families dreaming of dignity.
Also, Nollywood may have put Onijanganjangan on the screen. But unless the government puts it on the development map, its people will remain trapped in poverty and neglect.
PLATFORM TIMES concludes that for Nigeria to truly progress, rural communities like Onijanganjangan must no longer be left behind.
This Special Report was produced by The Proactive Team ; 6th Set, Mass Communication Department, Al-Hikmah University in conjunction with Ebenezer Obey Music Life and Institute Study Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
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