Atanda Kayode, a 63-year-old retired teacher, fears he may soon lose his remaining eye after years of battling glaucoma and nerve degeneration without sufficient access to his pension savings for medical treatment.

The former teacher, who lost his right eye while still in service, says bureaucratic delays and refusal by his Pension Fund Administrator (PFA), Stanbic IBTC, to release a portion of his Retirement Savings Account (RSA) have worsened his condition. Now retired and without steady support, Kayode says the situation has left him stranded, unable to afford vital medication.

“I have no single supplement or eyedrop left. The pain and pressure in my eye are constant. I’m watching my vision disappear while the people who should help look the other way,” he told The Guardian, tremblingly.

In a public plea, Mr. Kayode narrated how multiple requests to access part of his pension funds on health grounds — as provided under the Pension Reform Act — were repeatedly rejected, first when he was still in service and later after his 2023 retirement.

“In 2016, when I applied on medical grounds after losing my right eye to glaucoma, they claimed I was still in active service. After retirement, they said my RSA had been programmed,” he said. “What does it take to get the help the law guarantees?”

The Pension Reform Act 2014 allows retirees above 50 years to access a lump sum from their pension, especially in cases of health emergencies. Kayode says he applied again in 2024 and 2025, requesting between N2.5 million and N3.5 million for treatment, but has been denied repeatedly.

Scanning through his documents, The Guardian observed that one of his drugs, optic nerve formulas, costs about ₦132,000, which he has not been able to get.

He added that he has had to abandon his quarterly medical reviews since November 2024 due to a lack of funds, and currently cannot afford even the most basic of his medications.

“I am financially down. My monthly stipend from the pension cannot even cover the cost of one eye drop. I fear the worst.”

Kayode’s situation has sparked emotional responses online, not just because of his condition, but also as a retired teacher who has shaped many lives at the risk of his sight, as he shared a heartfelt message titled “Nigeria Has Happened to Me.” In it, he appeals for financial help and calls out the silence of pension authorities over the repeated denials.

He says his efforts included writing directly to the National Pension Commission (PenCom) and hand-delivering a letter to their Abuja office, but months later, no response has been received.

“Except for my obituary and death certificate, I’ve submitted every document they’ve asked for. What more is left?” he said.

With worsening sight, mounting health costs, and no safety net, Kayode’s story highlights the emotional and physical toll delayed pension access is having on vulnerable Nigerian retirees.

He is now appealing to the public for help, saying his life and vision depend on urgent support.

“Help your friend before I go blind. Help before it’s too late,” he said.