Stakeholders in Suleja, Niger State, comprising community leaders, students' union members, and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) members, staged a protest over an alleged plan to convert land allocated to Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) University into a market. Led by the Suleja Development Association (SUDA), protesters converged on the university's Suleja campus site, carrying placards and calling on Governor Umar Mohammed Bago to reverse the decision.
The protesters, led by Prof. Sulaiman Dangana Abdul, expressed opposition to the alleged plan by the state government to hand over the Field Base land for market construction reportedly owned by Nigerian Army Properties Limited. The Field Base, formerly used during Abuja's construction as the new Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was handed over to the Niger State Government in 2007 as appreciation for ceding a vast portion of its territory for FCT development.
Following the handover, the property was allocated to IBB University, Lapai, for establishing a campus in the emirate. The community welcomed the university campus, seeing it as an expansion of educational opportunities aligning with their expectations for the property's use. Abdul emphasized the importance of the university to the Suleja community.
Stakeholder and town planner TP Umar Shuaibu noted that Suleja Emirate already has several markets, some of which are underutilized. He listed the Suleja International Market at Rafin-Sanyi, Muhammad Auwal Ibrahim Market near Maje, and another modern market under construction around Madalla. Shuaibu urged the state government to focus on providing the university with basic infrastructure instead of allocating its land to a private market developer.
Shuaibu highlighted that Suleja Emirate lacks a tertiary institution, and the university has commenced offering courses and programs. The stakeholders expressed frustration that despite attempts to secure an audience with Governor Bago for constructive engagement, they were unsuccessful. They were shocked by a statement reportedly released by the state government indicating a memorandum of understanding (MoU) had been signed for the handover of the property to a private organization for market development.
The stakeholders issued a two-week ultimatum to the state government to reverse the alleged decision, threatening to seek legal redress if their demands are not met. The protest reflects the community's commitment to preserving the university and promoting educational development in the region.
The outcome of the protest and the state government's response remain uncertain. The situation highlights the challenges of balancing development needs with community interests and the importance of engaging stakeholders in decision-making processes.
Key points
- The protest was led by the Suleja Development Association (SUDA) and included community leaders, students' union members, and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) members.
- The stakeholders claim the state government plans to hand over the land to a private organization for market development, despite existing underutilized markets in the area.
- The protesters issued a two-week ultimatum to the state government to reverse the alleged decision, threatening to seek legal redress if their demands are not met.
