Tungan-Usman, an FCT community relying on Niger for healthcare

Tungan-Usman is a serene community in the Gurdi ward of Abaji Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Its inhabitants are predominantly farmers of the Gbagyi tribe. Nestled under rocky hills along the Lambata-Lapai expressway, the community borders Lambata and Lapai in neighboring Niger State. However, residents who spoke with Abuja Metro during a […]

Tungan-Usman is a serene community in the Gurdi ward of Abaji Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Its inhabitants are predominantly farmers of the Gbagyi tribe.

Nestled under rocky hills along the Lambata-Lapai expressway, the community borders Lambata and Lapai in neighboring Niger State.

However, residents who spoke with Abuja Metro during a visit on Thursday, expressed deep concern over the lack of viable social amenities, particularly the absence of a health center.

They noted that this deficiency compels patients, including pregnant women, to travel to Lambata in Niger State for medical treatment whenever they fall ill.

Ibrahim Danjuma, a community elder, explained that the lack of a local clinic has caused significant hardship.

He noted that patients must travel nine kilometers to Lambata to access care.

“The major challenge facing the people of Tungan-Usman is the lack of a clinic,” Danjuma said, adding, “Even the one built two years ago in the neighboring village of Gawu has not been equipped with the necessary facilities or staff.”

Another resident, Ishaku Alhassan, added that the situation is particularly dire for pregnant women seeking antenatal care.

He lamented that women in labour are often forced to risk giving birth at home, endangering both mother and child.

“It is quite pathetic that our pregnant women in labour have to take the risk, especially in emergency cases, of delivering at home,” Alhassan said.

He further noted that the community has written to the Area Council on several occasions requesting a clinic, but their efforts have yielded no positive response.

According to him, the village head even set up a committee years ago to liaise with the council, yet nothing has been done.

The village head, HRH Alhaji Alhassan Nakoji, confirmed that the lack of healthcare is a primary grievance for his subjects.

“The only saving grace is a health center in Lambata, under the Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State, where our people travel for treatment, antenatal care, and delivery,” the chief said.

Beyond healthcare, the traditional ruler lamented the lack of a motorized borehole.

He said currently, the community relies on only two hand-pump boreholes—one near the palace and another at a local church. These points are under immense pressure from the growing population, which includes Tiv and Fulani residents.

“The borehole near the church is where the Tiv people fetch water, but it cannot serve the entire community. Residents only find relief during the rainy season when they can collect rainwater,” the chief said.

He also complained about the lack of permanent staff at the local school and the deteriorating infrastructure.

“Some of the roofs have been blown off by windstorms,” he said, appealing to the Area Council to provide potable drinking water and a functional clinic.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, an official from the council’s Works Department told our reporter that the construction of a clinic and motorized boreholes for some communities in the Gurdi ward has been captured in this year’s budget.

“Actually, this year’s council budget includes the construction of clinics and the sinking of motorized boreholes in several communities within the Gurdi ward,” the official stated.

He did not, however, specify if Tungan-Usman is specifically included in the proposed project.