The NNPC and SNEPCo 'Vision First Plus' health outreach concluded its two-day run in Ajara Mango, Badagry, on August 11, 2026, leaving behind a record of over 1,000 residents screened and 38 free eye surgeries performed. The event, held on August 10 and 11, drew crowds from sunrise, transforming the community into a temporary eye-care hub.
Day One Tally and Surgeries
Engr. Ehebha Lawretta, an NNPC official, provided the official breakdown for the first day: 583 patients registered, 462 went through nursing triage, 377 received laboratory services, 180 had general consultations, 219 received non-surgical eye care (screening, glasses, and cataract assessment), and 259 received pharmacy dispensations. Thirty-eight residents underwent successful eye surgeries free of charge, restoring sight to individuals who had lived with treatable conditions for years. Several beneficiaries shared their experiences on camera after their procedures.
Call for a Permanent Clinic
Hon. Babatunde Hunpe, Executive Chairman of Badagry Local Government, addressed dignitaries at the event, describing the partnership as one Badagry hopes will outlast a single weekend. He offered land within the community for Shell, NNPC, and SNEPCo to build a permanent clinic, telling officials it was "okay" if the facility carried their name, and urged the partners to make the outreach a recurring fixture rather than a one-off.
A permanent secretary among the dignitaries echoed the call to build on the momentum, proposing that a modest health insurance contribution per resident (cited at ₦15,000) could extend the programme's impact well beyond the two days of screening and surgery.
Vision First Philosophy and Community Impact
Earlier remarks from visiting officials framed the outreach around a simple idea: that good vision underpins everything else, from creativity to work to daily life, which is why "Vision First" anchors the programme's name. The NNPC team also used the outreach to highlight its broader role in making the Vision First Plus programme possible, positioning the Badagry exercise as part of a wider commitment to community health across its host communities.
Beyond the numbers, what stood out in Ajara Mango was the queue that formed before the gates even opened, a reminder of how much a single weekend of free, quality eye care can mean for a community that doesn't always get one. The event concluded with the local government's land offer and a call for a permanent clinic, setting the stage for potential long-term eye-care services in Badagry.
