Suleja Stakeholders Protest Alleged Conversion of IBB University Land to Market

Protesters in Suleja, Niger State, including community leaders, students’ union members and members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), have protested against the proposed development of a market on land earmarked for the Suleja campus of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU).

The protesters, led by members of the Suleja Development Association (SUDA), converged on the university’s Field Base site on Thursday, September 24, carrying placards and calling on Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago to halt the proposed development and preserve the property for educational purposes.

The protest follows the state government’s earlier agreement with Nigerian Army Properties Ltd. (NAPL) for the development of a market in Suleja. The government announced the ₦121 billion Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NAPL in March, describing the proposed market as a major commercial project for the area.

SUDA Opposes Proposed Conversion

Reading a statement on behalf of the protesters, SUDA President, Mohammed Ishaq, represented by Prof. Sulieman Dangana Abdul, said the Suleja Emirate opposed the reported plan to use the Field Base for the proposed market.

Abdul said the Field Base had historical significance to Suleja, having served as an operational base for the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) during the development of Abuja. According to accounts cited by SUDA and historical reports, the property was formally handed over to the Niger State Government and Suleja Local Government Council on October 30, 2007.

He said the property was subsequently allocated to IBB University for the establishment of a campus in Suleja, a development that was welcomed by residents because it expanded access to tertiary education.

The university had also previously taken steps to develop the Suleja property. A 2014 development notice from IBB University described the 46.47-hectare property, formerly known as Suleja Field Base, as land intended for an executive education campus.

Abdul said the community was therefore concerned about the reported change in the use of the property.

“The establishment of a university campus at the site was warmly welcomed by the people of Suleja, as it expanded educational opportunities for the community and aligned with the expectations of the people regarding the property’s intended use.”

He argued that decisions concerning the Field Base should take into account its history and the expectations of the Suleja community.

Stakeholders Raise Concerns Over Market Project

Also speaking, a stakeholder and town planner, TP Umar Shuaibu, said Suleja already had several markets, some of which he alleged were underutilised.

He cited 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 prioritise infrastructure and educational development at the university site rather than proceed with the proposed commercial development.

“Suleja Emirate is the only urban centre in Niger State that is lacking any single tertiary institution,” he said, adding that IBB University had already commenced some courses and programmes at the site.

SUDA also alleged that it had made several attempts to secure an audience with the governor to discuss the matter but had not received the response it sought.

However, the development comes against the background of a September 9 meeting between the Niger State Government and Suleja stakeholders, where further consultations were reportedly agreed on issues surrounding the proposed Field Base market, including the portion of land involved, project design, expected benefits and security implications.

SUDA subsequently expressed concern that, despite the consultations, it remained opposed to the reported change of use of the property and claimed it had not been adequately involved in the discussions.

The association also alleged that the state government had directed occupants of the Field Base to vacate the premises to make way for the proposed development. That claim has not been independently established in the sources reviewed.

Protesters Give Government Two Weeks

At the end of the protest, the stakeholders called on the Niger State Government to reverse the reported decision and maintain the property for educational purposes.

They gave the government a two-week ultimatum to address their concerns, warning that they would pursue legal avenues if the matter was not resolved.

SUDA Public Relations Officer, Shuaibu Umar, said the association had attempted to resolve the matter through dialogue but was prepared to seek legal redress.

He said the association had issued a 30-day pre-hearing notice to the state government, alleging that the government failed to respond within the stipulated period.

SUDA said it remained committed to peaceful engagement but insisted that any decision concerning the Field Base should involve proper consultation with the Suleja community and take into consideration the property’s educational history and previous allocation to IBB University.

The Niger State Government has not, in the reports reviewed for this story, publicly announced a reversal of the market project. Its earlier engagement with Suleja stakeholders, however, resulted in an agreement for further consultations on the proposed development.