Stakeholders in Suleja, Niger State, have protested an alleged plan by the state government to convert land earmarked for an Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU) campus into a market.
The protesters, comprising community leaders, students’ union members and Nigeria Labour Congress representatives, gathered on Thursday at the former Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) Field Base in Suleja. They were led by Suleja Development Association (SUDA) members, who called on the Governor to halt the proposed conversion. Further calling on the governor to engage the community over the property’s future. Multiple reports confirmed the protest and the group’s concerns.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Prof. Suleiman Dangana Abdul said the Suleja Emirate opposed the reported plan to redevelop the property as a market.
The disputed site, popularly known as Field Base, was established during the development of Abuja and was later handed over to the Niger State Government in 2007. The property was subsequently allocated for the development of an IBB University campus in Suleja. The university had previously announced plans to develop its 46.47-hectare Suleja property as an executive education campus. An indication that the site had been earmarked for educational use before the latest dispute.
Abdul said residents welcomed the university’s presence. This is because Suleja had long sought a tertiary institution that could expand access to higher education for people. He argued that converting the property for commercial use would undermine that objective.
Town planner Umar Shuaibu also questioned the need for another major market in Suleja. He said the town already had several markets, including the Suleja International Market and the Muhammad Auwal Ibrahim Market.
Attempts To Reach Authorities Futile
According to SUDA, the proposed market is expected to be developed by Nigerian Army Properties Limited. The association said the project has been valued at about N121 billion. The stakeholders further alleged that the state government had revoked the university’s allocation and entered into a memorandum of understanding with a private developer for the proposed market.
They said repeated attempts to secure a meeting with Governor Bago had not produced the engagement they sought. SUDA also alleged that some other stakeholders had been invited to discussions over the project without the association being included.
The protesters gave the Niger State Government two weeks to reverse the reported decision. Further saying they would consider legal action if the matter was not resolved.
