BACKGROUND: Postoperative ileus (POI) has been defined as the delayed return of coordinated intestinal motility following abdominal surgery. Incidence rates as high as 40% have been documented in the literature and it is highest in procedures involving small and large bowel resections. POI has attendant complications, which include abdominal discomfort, nausea and vomiting, wound infection and breakdown, prolonged hospital stay and increased cost of care. Several interventions have been instituted in the past to reduce or abolish POI with limited success. Sham feeding using sugarless and mint-free chewing gum was evaluated in our environment. METHODOLOGY: This was a prospective randomised control study which was carried out in the General Surgery Units of OAUTHC, Ile Ife, over a six month period. Ninety four patients aged 18years and above were recruited into the study, 46 in the study arm (group A) and 48 in the control arm(group B). Patients in the study arm chewed sugar-free and mint-free gum starting from twelve hours after laparotomy for duration of thirty minutes every eight hours and continued until 72 hours after the operation. Both groups had standard post-operative care. Clinical examination entailed auscultation for bowel sounds six hourly till first normoactive bowel sounds (five bowel sounds in one minute) were heard or until the patient had bowel motions. Data collected was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences [SPSS] software for windows version 22. Test of association between categorical variables was assessed using Chi-Square while Student’s T test was used for continuous variables. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05 at 95% confidence interval.