Reopen our youth centre’: Abesan residents appeal to Sanwo-Olu

Residents of Abesan Estate in Mosan Okunola Local Council Development Area of Lagos State have appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intervene in the prolonged closure of the Abesan Youth Centre, saying the development is depriving youths of opportunities for sports, recreation and talent development.

The centre, supervised by the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development, was shut in June 2026 for renovation. However, residents said the rehabilitation work had yet to commence, with no contractor reportedly seen at the facility.

President of the Abesan Estate Residents Association (AERA), Shina Dare, urged the governor to urgently address the situation, stressing that residents were not opposed to the proposed renovation.

“We are appealing to Governor Sanwo-Olu to intervene. The residents are not against the renovation of the Youth Centre. What concerns us is that the facility has been closed for months, yet there is no visible renovation work taking place,” Dare said.

He said AERA had written to the Ministry of Youth and Social Development highlighting the impact of the closure, particularly during the summer holiday when children and teenagers normally engage in sporting and recreational activities.

According to Dare, the association had yet to receive an official response to its concerns.

The closure has also affected community-organised youth programmes. A youth advocate, Tayo Adeyemo, said his organisation had sought permission to use the centre for a sporting competition for teenagers but was denied access.

In a response signed by the ministry’s Director of Youth Development, Saka A.L., on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, the government said the facility was under renovation and indicated that it would be appropriate for the centre to be opened for use while the work continued.

However, a visit by our correspondent showed that the facility remained locked, with no visible renovation activity.

A resident, Phillip Obafemi, said the situation had frustrated many young people who planned to participate in summer sports programmes.

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“Our children are devastated because they cannot attend summer sports coaching. This is the best time for them to engage in sports and showcase their talents before school resumes,” he said.

Another resident, Seun Akinsola, said the closure could create unnecessary tension between youths and the government.

“We are not against the proposed renovation. What we are against is closing the facility when our children are on holiday and there is no renovation work going on,” Akinsola said.

He warned that denying youths opportunities to engage in positive activities could push some towards negative alternatives.

Similarly, youth leader Agboola Sodiya urged the governor to intervene, warning that prolonged closure of the centre could undermine efforts to keep young people positively engaged.

“Once you deprive youths of sporting activities, they tend to seek alternatives, which sometimes have adverse effects,” Sodiya said.

The residents urged the state government to either commence the renovation immediately or reopen the facility pending the commencement of the project, describing the Youth Centre as an important platform for nurturing talents and promoting healthy lifestyles among young people.