Former FCDA field base Suleja – The seizing of legacy property (I)

The FCDA Field Base located in Suleja was the first headquarters of the Federal Capital Development Authority, where the FCT was initially administered. It accommodated the first and second ministers of the FCT and the pioneer staff of the FCDA with their offices. Prior to the development, the land were farm lands, acquired from the […]

The FCDA Field Base located in Suleja was the first headquarters of the Federal Capital Development Authority, where the FCT was initially administered. It accommodated the first and second ministers of the FCT and the pioneer staff of the FCDA with their offices. Prior to the development, the land were farm lands, acquired from the local indigenes for overriding public interest.

As a result of the recognition of sacrifices made by the host community, the FCDA made a commitment to use the land for only three to four years, and promised to hand it over to Niger State for the benefit of the host community, when it finally leaves for the new Federal Capital City as a sign of appreciation. This serves as its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), or, contribution to the community development in the area.

These sacrifices included the provision of land for the field base, surrendering 80 per cent of the total area of the whole FCT and sacrificing the name of Abuja the symbol of their identity to the new Federal Capital of the nation. Ordinarily, surrendering the name of Abuja alone requires compensation, but for the magnanimity of the host community, such was not demanded.

Malam Abdullahi Ladan, the Wazirin Zazzau Suleja was the first Secretary of the former Abuja Local Government of Niger State at that time, he also served the dual role of being the accounting officer of FCDA. He is still alive, presently 97 years old. It was him that ensured that the pledge of handing over the Field Base was committed into writing.

The handing over was to be done 43 years ago when the FCDA left Suleja to its secretariat in the city in 1983. Unfortunately, it was delayed for 24 years. Because soon after the FCDA’s exit, the federal government reneged on its promise, to the dismay of the peace loving Suleja community. It was subsequently used as a military barrack, then as a base for the Nigerian Legion, and accommodation for the staff of the presidency.

The last straw that broke the camel’s back was the enlisting of the field base among those properties to be sold during the sale of federal government houses exercise to the consternation of the host community.

That triggered the struggle by the Suleja Development Association (SUDA), led by Hon. Rabiu Ishaq, the Galadiman Zazzau Suleja. After four years of laborious search the document containing the pledge of handover to the host community was found at the Niger State Archive. Otherwise, there wouldn’t have been any evidence to prove that any promise was made.

It eventually culminated in the official handing over of the field base by the former FCT minister Aliyu Moddibbo to the Niger State Chief Servant Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu who received on behalf of the Suleja community in a grand ceremony on October 30, 2007 at the Emir of Suleja’s palace. The symbolic ceremony, about 19 years ago, is still fresh in the minds of the community members.

After the successful take-over, the Suleja Community demanded that the land be handed over to the Niger State owned IBB University, which main campus is in Lapai, strictly for the establishment of a campus offering courses for the benefits of all Nigerlites. This decision was not for personal gains, but to ensure that the future generation could have access to higher learning within their homeland. Because it is only Suleja that hasn’t got any tertiary institution among the urban centers in Niger State. The Niger State Government obliged and issued Certificate of Occupancy to the IBB University.

Subsequently, the premises was fenced with the personal contribution of eminent personalities in the state, and the university introduced many courses which are currently running in the former FCDA Field Base Campus Suleja. More courses are being expected, as promised by the university’s management, in view of Suleja’s proximity to the federal capital city.

Despite these painstaking struggle by the host community to ensure that this revered property got finally handed over by the federal government, and the ongoing educational use of the site, recently the Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago made announcement for the revocation of the former field base from the IBB University, for a commercial use. IBB University was ordered to stop all courses henceforth or look for other venues.

Courtesy demands that whatever, action or new policy that will be made on this land, the views of the community be sought and environmental impact assessment conducted. Unfortunately, what the government exhibited is a clear disregard to the efforts and strenuous struggles endured by the Suleja community before the taking over of this property. Does it mean that all the labour, interest and spirited aspirations of the community for an educational facility, were jettisoned in favour of private and commercial interest?

The Land Use Act of 1978 vests all land in the state in the governor, but only as a trustee not as an owner. Section 1 of the Act declares that land shall be “held in trust and administered for the use and common benefit of all Nigerians.” This sacred trust also ensured that the governor cannot seize land already allocated for public use, especially educational, if it is not for overriding public interest.

To be continued.