Mariam Akinosho & Ayomide Shoboyejo
The Ogun State government has commissioned the state branch of the Nigeria Medical Association on 22.74 hectares of estate at Laderin, Abeokuta, for over 300 members.
The ceremony was performed by a trio consisting of the Secretary to Ogun State Government, Tokunbo Talabi, Commissioner for Health, Tomi Coker, and the Chairman of the NMA in the state, Dr. Kunle Ashimi.
Giving the background of the proposed estate, Dr. Ashimi recalled that the doctors in the state, under the umbrella of NMA in 2009, contributed money and bought a parcel of land at Mologede village in Abeokuta, but it was revoked by the Ibikunle Amosun government in 2011. 
He added that after discussions with the Amosun government, they were relocated to Laderin.
The NMA chairman said the newly allocated parcel of land became controversial and ended up in litigation, which extended from 2017 to 2020. He disclosed that the association reclaimed its land through a favorable judgment delivered by the court.
Ashimi said the association enjoyed the support of both the former and the current administrations. He mentioned that the current administration provided logistics that ensured their easy relocation after the court judgment.
Commenting on the groundbreaking for this estate, NMA chairman said, “We are going to construct the gatehouse and the perimeter fencing.
“The land is 22.74 hectares, and we would have about 383 doctors on this estate, including those occupants we tolerated because of the agreement we had with them.
“And of course, there will be commercial areas, green areas, and play areas for children.”
Explaining the rationale behind the project, Ashimi said it is to bring comfort and make life easy for the doctors.
He said, “by the virtue of the nature of our job, we would implore the government to come to our aid by providing good roads, electricity, a transformer, and piped borne water so that everything can go smoothly, which, of course, will bring more rapid development to this area.
For all of our members who are owners of plots and stakeholders, my advice to them is that they should come and take possession of their land.
“ They can approach the National Housing Fund (NHF), which is readily available to give them money and also approach us for all the documents that they will require to process such funds so that they can start the construction of their plot.
“And also, I urged all our members and publics to always do proper diligence by employing professionals to ascertain the status of any land that you want to buy; otherwise, problems like this will always arise.”
Speaking after the turning of the sod for the gatehouse, Commissioner for Health in the State, Dr. Mrs. Tomi Coker, described the project as a great achievement.
She added, “I am glad that it is in His Excellency’s administration that we are observing the groundbreaking of the NMA estate.
“And I can commit on his behalf that all the government support that is required to ensure that this is a viable project, we would advocate together, and I am sure because the governor is magnanimous, and he would support us.
“ And also, I know he would support our vision to ensure that this plot of estate occurs in all three senatorial districts. So, the NMA chairman, I want to congratulate you.
“I am not surprised that this is happening in Dr. Ashimi’s time because he has been the most engaging NMA chairman with the government.
“ So, this is a joint effort and collaboration that we would support you in, to make sure that without the welfare of the doctors, how do we expect them to commit to delivering quality effort.”
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