Suleja Residents Protest Conversion Of Varsity Land To Market

Residents of Suleja, Niger State, under the aegis of the Suleja Development Association (SUDA), have protested the alleged plan by the state government to convert land originally earmarked for the Suleja Campus of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU) into a market.

The association called on Governor Mohammed Bago to suspend the proposal, insisting that the property was acquired and designated for educational purposes and should not be diverted to commercial use.

Speaking with journalists yesterday, SUDA national president, Mohammed Ishaq, represented by a member of the association, Prof. Sulieman Abdul, said the proposed conversion disregarded the educational needs and historical significance of the property to the Suleja community.

Ishaq said the disputed property, popularly known as Field Base, was established in 1977 as an operational base for officials of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) during the construction of the Federal Capital City.

He explained that the facility housed some key officials involved in the development of the FCT, including ministers and pioneer FCDA personnel, before the administration was eventually relocated to Abuja.

According to him, the property was formally handed over to the Suleja community on October 30, 2007, during the administration of former Governor Babangida Aliyu, at the palace of the Emir of Suleja, with relevant documents executed by the parties involved.

He said the subsequent decision to allocate the property for the IBB University campus was welcomed by the community, stressing that the reported plan to convert the site into a market had generated widespread concern.

Ishaq maintained that any decision on the property must consider its history, the circumstances surrounding its acquisition and the expectations of the Suleja community as its intended beneficiaries.

He argued that the town required more educational institutions rather than another market, noting that Suleja already had several markets serving residents.

The SUDA president further alleged that despite several attempts by the association to meet with the governor and discuss the matter, the state government proceeded to revoke the allocation and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a private developer for the proposed construction of a market on the site.

The association therefore urged the state government to suspend further development on the property and engage the Suleja community before taking any decision on its future.

“We recognise the legitimate responsibility of government to provide infrastructure, promote economic development and undertake projects. However, due process must be followed, particularly where the historical and community interests attached to the property are concerned,” he said.