Nigerian Senate President Akpabio’s outreach team provides free drugs consultations and eyeglasses to residents in Surulere Lagos

Nigerian Senate President Akpabio’s outreach team provides free drugs consultations and eyeglasses to residents in Surulere Lagos

What began as an ordinary weekend in Surulere quickly became something much more meaningful for hundreds of residents. More than 700 people walked away with free medical attention after a large-scale health outreach reached the community, offering help to those who might otherwise go without care.

The programme brought doctors, medicines, and simple but life-changing tools like eyeglasses directly into the neighbourhood, easing both financial and physical burdens for many families.


The outreach brought doctors, medicine, and vision care under one roof

Residents didn’t just come for check-ups — they received full consultations, prescribed drugs at no cost, and free eyeglasses where needed. For elderly residents, low-income earners, and others struggling to afford routine care, the outreach offered immediate relief and reassurance.

By early afternoon, queues had formed and steadily moved as volunteers and medical workers attended to everyone who showed up.


The project is part of a growing national humanitarian effort

The Surulere outreach was not a one-off gesture. It marked the third major medical intervention under the Akpabio Cares Initiative in the past two years.

Earlier editions had taken place in Osogbo, Osun State, and in Yankaba, Kano State — a pattern that reflects a deliberate effort to spread the programme across different parts of the country rather than limit it to one region.


Organisers say the mission is simple and personal

According to Ahmed Mustapha, who convened the programme and serves as a Senior Legislative Aide to the Senate President, the goal is straightforward — to give back in the most practical way possible.

He explained that good health is often the foundation for everything else in life, and helping people stay healthy is one of the most meaningful ways to support a community.

He also noted that the Surulere outreach was planned to reach about 700 people, a target that was successfully met.


The outreach went beyond home-state politics

Some residents wondered why the programme was held in Lagos rather than the Senate President’s home state of Akwa Ibom.

Mustapha addressed that directly, saying the office of the Senate President is a national one, and its humanitarian efforts are meant to reflect that national reach. The idea, he said, is for people in different parts of the country to feel included, seen, and supported.


Gratitude from residents reflected the impact on daily life

For many beneficiaries, the outreach wasn’t just helpful — it was deeply personal.

Several residents expressed appreciation for being remembered and supported, offering prayers and goodwill in return. Others pointed out that Mustapha’s roots in the community played a role in bringing the initiative to Surulere, describing the outreach as a visible “dividend” of representation that touched real lives.


The programme is set to continue beyond Lagos

The organisers made it clear that Surulere is not the end of the journey. The initiative is expected to move next to the North Central region, continuing its pattern of rotating through different parts of Nigeria.

The broader aim, according to the team, is to make healthcare access less dependent on location, income, or circumstance.

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