Health facility project started 16 years ago abandoned in FCT community

Residents of the Riwaza community in Ashara ward, Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have appealed to the council authorities to complete an abandoned health center and rehabilitate a deplorable access road leading to the community. Speaking to our reporter on Tuesday, several residents noted that the health center, which was started […]

Residents of the Riwaza community in Ashara ward, Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have appealed to the council authorities to complete an abandoned health center and rehabilitate a deplorable access road leading to the community.

Speaking to our reporter on Tuesday, several residents noted that the health center, which was started over 16 years ago, remains uncompleted.

This neglect has made it increasingly difficult for them to access essential medical treatment, forcing patients to travel to the neighboring Fogbe village health center for care.

Alhassan Ibrahim, a community member, stated that the health center was initiated by the defunct Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) about 16 years ago but was never finished.

He noted that the situation particularly affects pregnant women, who must travel to Fogbe or Kwali township clinics for antenatal care.

Ibrahim added that parts of the facility’s roof have been blown off by windstorms, and hoodlums have taken advantage of the abandonment to vandalize doors and window guards.

“In fact, if you go round the health center, you will discover that almost the entire roof has been blown off, while some doors and window burglary proofs have been vandalized by hoodlums,” he said.

Another community member, Shuaibu Allah Magani, expressed serious concern over the long-term neglect.

“It is hard to imagine that this facility has remained abandoned for over 15 years. Our patients, including pregnant women, always have to travel to Kwali or Fogbe for treatment,” he said.

He mentioned that the community has repeatedly requested the council to liaise with the FCT Health Department to complete the project, but those efforts have yet to yield a positive response.

Elder Ayuba Emma also decried the deplorable state of the road linking Riwaza to the Fogbe and Kamadi communities.

He explained that the road becomes impassable during the rainy season, cutting the village off due to rising streams.

“Anyone familiar with the Fogbe area knows the challenges we face. During the rainy season, the road is impassable because the main route runs through fadama (wetland) farms,” Emma said.

He added that community members often contribute money to hire timber operators to construct temporary wooden bridges so villagers can reach neighboring towns.

Community leader Yakubu Kajeni described the lack of a health center and a functional road network as a “nightmare.”

He appealed to the council authorities and the FCT Administration to complete the facility and grade the road to include bridges.

“Our people are mostly peasant farmers, but they lack a good road to transport their crops to markets in Kwali or Abaji because of the bad conditions,” Kajeni said.

An official of the council, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the council has already included the grading of some rural roads and the construction of culverts and bridges in its budget.

“Aside from that, the council chairman tabled the issue of the abandoned health center when the minister paid a ‘thank you’ tour to Kwali on Monday. The Minister gave assurances that the facility and other demands will be looked into,” the official said.