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 denying thousands of teenagers and young people access to sporting, recreational and talent-development opportunities.
The Youth Centre, which is under the supervision of the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development, was shut in June 2026 for renovation. However, residents said more than two months after the closure, the proposed renovation work has yet to commence, with no contractor seen on site.
President of the Abesan Estate Residents Association (AERA), Shina Dare, urged Governor Sanwo-Olu to urgently look into the situation and direct the relevant authorities to resolve the matter in the interest of youths in the community.
Dare said the residents were not opposed to the planned renovation of the facility but questioned the continued closure of the centre when actual renovation work was yet to begin.
According to him, the timing of the closure has been particularly damaging because the summer holiday is traditionally a period when children and teenagers engage in sporting activities, skills development and other positive recreational programmes.
“We are appealing to Governor Sanwo-Olu to intervene. The residents are not against the renovation of the Youth Centre. What we are concerned about is the fact that the facility has been closed for months, yet there is no visible renovation work taking place,” Dare said.
He explained that AERA, as the parents’ body representing residents of the estate, had written to the Ministry of Youth and Social Development to draw attention to the consequences of keeping the facility locked during the long vacation.
Dare said the association had yet to receive an official response to its concerns.
The closure has also affected community-organised programmes designed to keep young people engaged during the holiday.
A youth advocate in the community, Tayo Adeyemo, whose organisation organised a sporting competition for teenagers during the summer break, also appealed to the authorities for access to the facility but was denied permission to use it.
In a response signed by the Director of Youth Development in the ministry, Saka A.L., on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, the ministry maintained that the centre was currently under renovation.
The ministry, however, indicated that it would be appropriate for the facility to be opened for use while the renovation work was ongoing.
But a visit by our correspondent to the centre revealed that the facility remained shut, with its entrance gate locked and no visible renovation activity taking place.
Residents expressed concern that the prolonged closure could have unintended social consequences, particularly at a time when young people need structured activities to occupy their time.
One resident, Phillip Obafemi, said the closure had caused frustration among children and teenagers who had expected to use the holiday period to participate in sports coaching and other activities at the centre.
“Our children are devastated right now because they cannot attend the summer sports coaching. This is the best time for them to engage in sports and showcase their talents before school resumes,” Obafemi said.
He appealed to Governor Sanwo-Olu to intervene by ensuring that the facility is made available to the community, particularly if the renovation work has not commenced.
“It is morally wrong to close these facilities at a time our children are supposed to be showcasing their talents. If renovation has not started, why should the entire facility remain locked?” he asked.
Another resident, Seun Akinsola, warned that the continued closure could create unnecessary tension between the youths and the state government.
Akinsola stressed that residents were not opposed to government efforts to improve the facility, but objected to the complete shutdown of the centre without visible work being undertaken.
“We are not against the proposed renovation. What we are against is closing down the facilities when our children are on holiday and there is no renovation work going on,” he said.
According to him, the authorities should consider the social importance of youth centres and ensure that young people have access to positive activities.
“The ministry seems to be taking us for granted. I am sure they cannot do this in other parts of Lagos. When you deny youths the opportunity to showcase their positive talents, they tend to seek alternatives, and some of those alternatives can be negative,” Akinsola said.
A youth leader in the community, Agboola Sodiya, also called for the governor’s intervention, warning that the prolonged closure could undermine the community’s efforts to keep young people positively engaged.
Sodiya noted that Abesan Estate had maintained a relatively low crime rate and expressed concern that the situation could change if young people were left without access to organised sporting and recreational activities.
“Once you deprive youths of sporting activities, they tend to seek alternatives, which sometimes have adverse effects,” he said.
He urged the state government to urgently review the situation and either commence the renovation work immediately or allow the community to use the facility until the contractor is ready to commence full-scale rehabilitation.
The residents maintained that the Youth Centre is more than just a physical facility, describing it as an important platform for discovering and developing young talents, promoting healthy lifestyles and keeping teenagers away from anti-social activities.
