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Nigeria, US deepen strategy against Sahel terror threats

Nanji Nandang VENLEY
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Nigeria, US deepen strategy against Sahel terror threats

NIGERIA has continued to build on its partnership with the United States (US) to confront terrorism following a high-level meeting earlier this week between the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and United States officials, led by Vice President James Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The meeting, which took place in Washington, was announced in a social media post by Secure Nigerian.

The ICIR reports that the meeting signals a more robust partnership between both countries as Nigeria intensifies military operations against insurgent groups including Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province, and other extremist networks spreading across the Sahel region.

“This week, Nigeria’s National Security Advisor, Nuhu Ribadu, met with Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, reinforcing a decisive U.S.-Nigeria partnership to confront terrorism in West Africa,” the post read.

According to the statement, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu expressed gratitude to US President Donald Trump for sustained American intelligence sharing, military training, and counterterrorism support to Nigerian forces.

“@officialABAT is grateful for @realDonaldTrump’s partnership and continued U.S. training and intelligence support as Nigerian forces intensify operations to dismantle terrorist networks, protect Nigerian Christians, and defend all vulnerable communities,” added.

It also highlighted the growing instability across West Africa, explaining that the collaboration with the US government would help to defeat terrorism and strengthen regional security cooperation.

“Africa’s largest democracy isn’t wavering. Nigeria stands as a frontline U.S. partner against ISIS, Boko Haram, and rising terror threats across the Sahel. This fight is winnable, and together, the U.S. and Nigeria intend to finish it,” the statement added.

The renewed security engagement comes amid growing instability across West Africa, where extremist violence has expanded beyond Nigeria into Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and parts of coastal West African states.

Since returning to office in January 2025 for his second term, Trump’s administration has pursued a more aggressive security-focused foreign policy in Africa, prioritising counterterrorism cooperation and strategic partnerships with regional allies. Nigeria, under Tinubu’s administration, has increasingly positioned itself as Washington’s most significant democratic and military ally in West Africa.

In November 2025, Ribadu led a 10-member high-level Nigerian delegation to Washington DC, where they held strategic security and diplomatic engagements with US officials.

A month later, in December 2025, Ribadu hosted a delegation from the US Congress in Abuja as both countries intensified bilateral cooperation on security and counterterrorism efforts.

The congressional delegation was led by senior lawmakers and included Representatives Mario Díaz-Balart, Norma Torres, Scott Franklin, Juan Ciscomani, and Riley Moore

No evidence of hantavirus in Nigeria – NCDC

Mustapha USMAN
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No evidence of hantavirus in Nigeria – NCDC

THE Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has said there is currently no evidence of hantavirus cases in Nigeria, despite recent reports of the virus cluster linked to cruise ship travel involving multiple countries.

In a public health advisory on Friday, May 8, the agency said it was closely monitoring the situation and maintaining enhanced surveillance for emerging infectious diseases.

The NCDC said the advisory became necessary following the cases linked to the cruise ship.

It also followed concerns raised by many Nigerians on social media over fears that the outbreak could mirror the spread of the coronavirus pandemic and Lassa fever.

The ICIR reports that hantaviruses are zoonotic viruses, meaning they are naturally maintained in animal populations and can occasionally spread to humans.

They belong to the hantaviridae family and were first widely recognised during the Korean War in the early 1950s, although the virus itself was formally isolated later.

Commenting further in its advisory, the NCDC urged the public to maintain clean environments and take preventive measures against rodent infestation, noting that hantavirus is commonly spread through contact with infected rodents, their urine, droppings, or saliva.

The agency advised Nigerians to store food properly, dispose of waste safely, avoid contact with rodents and their droppings, and use protective measures when cleaning rodent-infested areas.

It also stressed the need for regular hand hygiene and adherence to infection prevention and control measures in communities and healthcare facilities.

“The NCDC remains committed to safeguarding public health and will continue to provide timely updates as the situation evolves,” the advisory stressed..

The agency also encouraged the public to rely on verified health information and report any public health concerns through its toll-free hotline, 6232.

Earlier this month, the World Health Organization (WHO) notified the public about a hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship carrying 147 passengers and crew members.

As of May 4, 2026, seven cases, including two laboratory-confirmed infections and five suspected cases, had been identified. The outbreak recorded three deaths, one critically ill patient, and three persons with mild symptoms.

According to the WHO, the illnesses occurred between April 6 and 28 and were characterised by fever, gastrointestinal symptoms, rapid progression to pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and shock.

The WHO says transmission mainly occurs when people inhale particles contaminated by infected rodents’ urine, saliva, or droppings. In rare cases, infection may also occur through rodent bites or direct contact with broken skin.

Human-to-human transmission is considered extremely rare, with only limited cases linked to the Andes virus in South America.

The global health body stressed that symptoms of the disease usually appear between one and eight weeks after exposure and often begin with flu-like signs including fever, fatigue, headaches, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain.

In severe cases, hantavirus can progress to respiratory failure or kidney complications, depending on the strain involved.

Although there is currently no approved vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for hantavirus, health authorities say prevention largely depends on rodent control, environmental hygiene, and avoiding exposure to rodent-infested areas.

What you should know about hantavirus

Zainab ABDULRASAQ
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What you should know about hantavirus

EARLIER this month, the World Health Organisation (WHO) notified the public about an outbreak of hantavirus infection following reports of a cluster of passengers with severe respiratory illness aboard a cruise ship carrying 147 passengers and crew members.   

The WHO describes hantavirus as a group of viruses that can cause severe respiratory or kidney diseases in humans. Because the early symptoms often mimic common illnesses like the flu, public awareness of its origins, symptoms, and prevention is critical.

As of May 4, 2026, seven cases, including two laboratory-confirmed cases and five suspected cases of hantavirus had been identified. The outbreak also recorded three deaths, one critically ill patient, and three individuals with mild symptoms.

According to the WHO, illness onset occurred between April 6 and April 28, 2026, and was characterized by fever, gastrointestinal symptoms, rapid progression to pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and shock.

While the outbreak is currently being managed through a coordinated international response involving in-depth investigations, case isolation and care, medical evacuation, and laboratory testing, here is what you need to know about the virus.

What is hantavirus?

Hantaviruses are zoonotic viruses, meaning they are naturally maintained in animal populations and can occasionally spread to humans.

They belong to the Hantaviridae family and were first widely recognised during the Korean War in the early 1950s, although the virus itself was formally isolated later.

Like Lassa fever, the virus is primarily linked to specific rodent hosts such as the deer mouse, rice rat, or cotton rat. While the virus can persist in these rodents for long periods, it does not make the animals appear sick.

The WHO notes that geographical location often determines the type of disease caused. Hantaviruses in the Americas generally cause Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome (HCPS), while those found in Europe and Asia are more associated with Haemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS).

While hantavirus infections are relatively uncommon globally, they are linked to case fatality rates ranging from less than one per cent to 15 per cent in Asia and Europe, and up to 50 per cent in the Americas. Worldwide, an estimated 10,000 to more than 100,000 infections are recorded annually, with the highest burden occurring in Asia and Europe.

Can it be transmitted?

Transmission primarily occurs when humans come in contact with the urine, droppings, or saliva of infected rodents.

The most common route of transmission is inhalation. When rodent waste is disturbed, the virus can become airborne, allowing humans to breathe in contaminated particles.

Transmission may also occur through direct contact with broken skin or mucous membranes, and in some cases through rodent bites.

Regarding human-to-human transmission, WHO states that it is extremely rare. To date, only the Andes virus in South America has shown limited evidence of spreading between people, usually through close and prolonged contact, such as among household members.

Symptoms of Hantavirus

The WHO explains that symptoms usually begin to appear between one and eight weeks after exposure.

The clinical presentation varies depending on the syndrome developed by the patient, but the early stage is often similar.

  • Early phase: Patients typically experience fever, fatigue, and muscle aches, particularly in large muscle groups such as the thighs, hips, and back.
  • Respiratory progression (HCPS): In severe cases in the Americas, the disease may rapidly progress to shortness of breath and fluid accumulation in the lungs, leading to respiratory failure.
  • Renal progression (HFRS): In Europe and Asia, symptoms may progress to include severe headaches, blurred vision, and acute kidney failure.

Generally, the disease often starts with flu-like symptoms such as fever, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, and, in some cases, gastrointestinal symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain.

While symptoms appear within two to four weeks after exposure, the incubation period can range from one to eight weeks.

Prevention

Because there is currently no specific vaccine or antiviral treatment licensed for hantavirus, rodent control remains the primary strategy for prevention.

The WHO emphasises reducing contact between people and rodent habitats.

Preventive measures include closing holes and gaps in homes or workplaces to prevent rodents from entering, keeping homes and workplaces clean, avoiding dry sweeping or vacuuming rodent droppings, and storing food properly in tightly sealed containers.

Others are washing hands regularly, as well as avoiding dry cleaning methods such as sweeping or vacuuming in areas contaminated with rodent droppings, as these actions can release the virus into the air. Instead, wet the area with disinfectant or bleach before cleaning.

Should Nigerians be worried?

Meanwhile, an epidemiologist, Shakir Balogun, clarified that there is currently no cause for panic in Nigeria, noting that the latest outbreak is linked to a cruise ship cluster.

He explained that the outbreak occurred on a cruise ship travelling near the South Atlantic, and that Nigerians are geographically far from the affected area.

Shakir averred that hantavirus is mainly transmitted from rodents to humans, and not from person to person; usually through inhalation of air contaminated with rodent urine, droppings, or saliva.

According to him, the risk of a COVID-like global spread is very low, and the WHO has also assessed the risk to the general public as low.

“The risk of a COVID-like pandemic is very remote. No need to panic or be alarmed. According to the WHO, the risk to the general public is low.”

He advised that prevention should focus on basic hygiene and avoiding contact with rodents, including properly sealing food storage, wearing protective gear when cleaning areas that may contain rodent droppings, washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly, maintaining regular hand hygiene, and avoiding open defecation.

He also urged travellers to pay attention to health advisories from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and the WHO, especially when visiting or transiting through affected regions.

He confirmed that no cases have been reported in Nigeria, and that the outbreak remains limited to those on the cruise ship.

This report is republished from FactCheckHub. The original story can be read here.

Court orders Sowore to open defence in Tinubu cyberbullying case

Nanji Nandang VENLEY
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Court orders Sowore to open defence in Tinubu cyberbullying case

THE Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore to enter his defence in the cyberbullying case instituted against him by the State Security Service (SSS) over alleged defamatory comments against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The trial judge, Mohammed Umar, in a ruling delivered on Friday, held that the prosecution established a prima facie case against Sowore, sufficient enough to require him to enter his defence. He dismissed the no-case submission filed by the defendant.

“In view of the evidence before the court, a prima facie case has been made out against the defendant requiring him to enter his defence,” the judge ruled.

The ICIR reports that the case has continued to attract public attention due to concerns around freedom of expression, online criticism of public officials, and the application of Nigeria’s cybercrime laws.

Recall that Sowore had urged the court to discharge and acquit him in a no-case submission, after Nigeria’s secret police, otherwise known as the Department of State Services (DSS), had arraigned him on a two-count charge bordering on alleged cyberbullying after he allegedly described Tinubu as a ‘criminal’ on his X account, formerly known as Twitter.

The former presidential candidate argued in his no-case submission that the prosecution failed to establish any link between him and the alleged offences.

However, the judge ruled that the SSS successfully connected the defendant to the allegations and that the evidence presented before the court required an explanation from him.

However, Sowore accused the judge of bias after the ruling, insisting he could no longer get justice before the court. The activist urged  the to withdraw from the matter and return the case file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment.

Reacting, Umar directed Sowore to file a formal application for recusal, stating the grounds for his request, as the matter was adjourned till May 19 for the accused to open his defence and for the hearing of the recusal application.

The former presidential candidate further alleged that the court was working in concert with the Federal Government to secure his conviction ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Similarly, Sowore’s counsel, Marshall Abubakar, also accused the court of favouring the prosecution and formally requested that the case be reassigned.

Meanwhile, the counsel to the SSS, Akinlolu Kehinde, opposed the oral application, arguing that Sowore, being represented by counsel, should not personally address the court on the issue.

Court adjourns ADC leadership suit indefinitely amid escalating internal crisis

Mustapha USMAN
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Court adjourns ADC leadership suit indefinitely amid escalating internal crisis

THE Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, May 8, adjourned indefinitely a suit challenging the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The case, filed by ADC chieftain Nafiu Bala Gombe against former Senate President David Mark and others, was stalled after the court was informed that the plaintiff had applied for the reassignment of the matter to another judge.

Presiding judge, Emeka Nwite, adjourned the matter sine die following submissions that a request had been made to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court seeking the transfer of the case. 

The suit is marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, and the plaintiff is seeking an order restraining Mark, former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola and others from parading themselves as ADC leaders. It alleged that their emergence as the party’s leaders violated the party’s constitution and provisions of the Electoral Act.

At the resumed hearing, plaintiff’s counsel, Luka Haruna, told the court that the Supreme Court had dismissed an interlocutory appeal filed by the defendants as lacking merit, according to PUNCH.

He also noted that the apex court had set aside an earlier order of the Court of Appeal which had halted proceedings in the substantive suit.

However, Haruna informed the court that the plaintiff had written to the chief judge requesting reassignment of the case and urged the court to await administrative action on the request.

The defendants opposed the application, arguing that it was a calculated attempt to delay proceedings and frustrate the accelerated hearing earlier ordered by the appellate courts. 

Their lawyers reportedly described the move as “forum shopping” and an abuse of judicial process.

In his ruling, Nwite held that the court could not take any decision on the letter addressed to the chief judge without hearing from all parties, warning that doing so would violate the principle of fair hearing.

He further noted that since the correspondence was directed to the chief judge, the trial court lacked jurisdiction to pronounce on it.

The judge subsequently adjourned the matter indefinitely, stating that the adjournment would allow parties to obtain certified true copies of relevant Supreme Court proceedings, serve necessary documents, and await further directives from the chief judge.

Background

The latest development comes amid a prolonged leadership crisis within the ADC, which has intensified legal and political tensions within the party.

On April 30, 2026, the Supreme Court ordered the return of the dispute to the Federal High Court for full hearing, effectively setting aside earlier interim directives from the Court of Appeal that had attempted to preserve the status quo ante bellum  in the party’s leadership structure. 

The apex court held that the substantive issues must be resolved at the trial court level.

The ruling effectively reinforced the David Mark-led executive of the ADC, pending final determination of the case. 

The dispute stemmed from a suit filed by Gombe, who is challenging the emergence of Mark and Aregbesola as the party leaders, insisting that he should leader the party instead.

 

2026 NMMA opens to journalists in Nigeria

Blessing OTOIBHI
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2026 NMMA opens to journalists in Nigeria

THE Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA) is seeking applications for its award established in 1990 to recognise, encourage, and reward excellence in Nigerian media practice across print, radio, and television.

For the 2026 NMMA programme, journalists are to submit entries for works done in 2025.

In addition to its prestige, each award winner is presented with a trophy, a certificate, and a specific prize money.

The award categories include print, radio and television. Entry should be accompanied by the curriculum vitae and two passport-size photographs of the author.

The deadline for applications is May 15, 2026. Interested applicants can apply here.

NBA condemns misuse of criminal process in civil, defamation cases

Esther Tomo
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NBA condemns misuse of criminal process in civil, defamation cases

THE NIGERIAN Bar Association (NBA) has faulted what it described as an increasing resort to criminal prosecution and police intervention in disputes that are essentially civil, particularly cases tied to defamation and alleged reputational harm.

The NBA made this position known at its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on Thursday in Awka, Anambra State, where members reviewed recent developments involving arrests linked to social media publications.

The association pointed to an incident involving the arrest and detention of individuals over a viral online post about businessman Tony Elumelu, saying such situation reflected a growing pattern of treating civil disagreements as criminal matters.

“The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)… adopted a resolution condemning the increasing misuse of criminal law enforcement mechanisms in disputes fundamentally civil in nature, particularly matters relating to defamation and reputational injury,” the body said.

The NBA NEC noted that although allegations of false or damaging publications might carry legal implications, the appropriate response would lie within civil litigation rather than arrest or detention.

“Civil remedies such as defamation proceedings provide lawful and adequate avenues for redress without resort to arrest, detention, or criminal prosecution,” the association stated..

It added, “NEC considered recent reports involving the arrest of individuals over a viral social media publication concerning businessman Mr. Tony Elumelu and expressed concern over the growing tendency to deploy police powers in matters that ought properly to be resolved through civil legal processes.”

It further warned that treating civil disputes as criminal cases could weaken constitutional protections..

The association also noted that such practices could discourage open communication and public discourse.

The NBA said that the abuse of police powers in civil disputes could create a chilling effect on lawful expression and public discourse.

It called on security agencies to be cautious in the use of criminal procedures, especially where no recognised offence exists under Nigerian law.

The NBA also demanded the release of anyone detained solely over such publications where no criminal offence has been established.

Meanwhile, the group also commented on recent statements attributed to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over possible actions against a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

The council expressed concern over statements suggesting that party offices or bank accounts could be sealed in internal party disputes.

It maintained that such matters must follow due legal process and not be handled through unilateral executive action.

“NEC stated unequivocally that no public office holder possesses unilateral authority to seal private premises, organisations, or institutions except pursuant to lawful procedures, judicial authorisation, and clearly established statutory powers,” it said.

It warned that public statements suggesting otherwise could weaken democratic institutions and governance structures.

The association stressed that all public officials must operate strictly within constitutional limits and established legal procedures.

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Power minister-designate promises to address grid collapse in three months

Esther Tomo
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Power minister-designate promises to address grid collapse in three months

MINISTER of Power-designate, Joseph Tegbe, has assured Nigerians that the country’s repeated national grid failures will soon reduce significantly.

He promised visible progress in the nation’s sector within the next three months.

Tegbe gave the assurance while addressing the Senate during his screening at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Thursday, May 7.

He admitted that Nigeria’s electricity industry was facing serious challenges but said his team would adopt a more organised and accountable system to tackle the crisis.

“There may be small pain, but we will get there, because we’re going to have a disciplined approach to addressing this,” Tegbe told lawmakers.

He further promised to present a clear reform plan with measurable targets, stressing that Nigerians should begin to see results within a short period.

“I’ll come and present to you what our plan is, with clear milestones. If you don’t see this in three months, it means you won’t see it in six months. So you must see it in three months, and you must hold us accountable for it,” he added.

According to him, a detailed strategy to improve electricity supply and strengthen the sector would be unveiled within the next two weeks. He said the plan would focus on ending financial leakages, improving liquidity and restoring stability to the national grid.

“We’ll put a stop to the leakages, to the bleeding and all the challenges that we have,” he stated.

Nigeria’s power sector has continued to struggle with unstable electricity supply for years, as repeated grid breakdowns have left homes, businesses and industries without power on several occasions.

Despite having more than 13,000 megawatts of installed generation capacity, electricity supply across the country remains far below demand due to transmission problems, poor infrastructure, weak maintenance culture and financial difficulties within the industry.

Tegbe lamented that the sector was also battling huge debts estimated at nearly N6 trillion.

“Today, we have an estimated almost six trillion debt in the sector,” he said.

He explained that government interventions, including bond arrangements, had reduced part of the burden to about N3.3 trillion, though the industry still remained under pressure.

“A lot of work has been done to reduce that to N3.3 trillion through bond. Even when the industry is struggling, only N3.3 trillion is a lot of pressure,” he stated.

Tegbe linked the ongoing liquidity problems to the inability of generation companies to fully meet payment obligations for gas supply.

“Today, GenCos can’t even pay adequately for their gas supply because there are shortfalls,” he explained.

On electricity billing, Tegbe defended efforts toward cost-reflective tariffs, saying the sector must gradually grow into a sustainable market system because electricity remains an essential service.

He also spoke on efforts to reduce estimated billing through mass metering, noting that one million electricity meters were distributed nationwide last year.

“And then, we need to roll out metering. Last year, we rolled out one million meters across the country. It has never been done before,” he said.

He noted that his first 100 days in office would focus heavily on stabilising the national grid and enforcing stricter operational standards within the sector.

“The first phase in the 100 days is to stabilise that grid,” he told the senators, adding that stronger discipline, better coordination and improved reserve systems would help reduce the frequent grid disturbances affecting the country.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Tegbe following the resignation of former power minister Adebayo Adelabu, who stepped down to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State.

Nigeria’s national grid has recorded several collapses since 2023, leading to repeated blackouts across the country and worsening operating conditions for businesses already struggling with rising energy costs.

During the screening, Senate President Godswill Akpabio warned Tegbe against powerful interests within the electricity industry who might resist reforms.

“When they’re having meeting in the ministry of power and they take light, the minister will become agitated and worried and then, the engineers will be relaxed taking tea because they know more jobs are coming,” Akpabio said.

He also alleged that some businesses benefiting from generator imports may not want stable electricity in the country because of their commercial interests.

After the screening, the Senate confirmed Tegbe through a voice vote. He is expected to be officially sworn into office by Tinubu in the coming days.

 

I declined my ambassadorial posting to Germany, opted for South Africa – Fani-Kayode

Mustapha USMAN
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I declined my ambassadorial posting to Germany, opted for South Africa – Fani-Kayode

FORMER Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has dismissed reports that Germany rejected his nomination as Nigeria’s ambassador, insisting that he personally declined the posting and requested redeployment to South Africa.

In a statement on Thursday, May 7, Fani-Kayode said President Bola Tinubu approved his posting as Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to South Africa after he formally appealed to former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, to reconsider his deployment to Germany.

According to him, he informed Tuggar that he was ‘not comfortable’ with the Germany posting for ‘a number of personal reasons.’

He explained that having spent most of his life in Europe, he preferred South Africa, a country he said he had never visited but had always admired and wanted to explore.

“I would rather serve in a country that shares some of my convictions, beliefs and values when it comes to world affairs, that has the biggest economy in Africa, that has closer ties to Nigeria and that is more proximate to my political thinking when it comes to foreign affairs and a pan African vision,” he stated.

Fani-Kayode said he applied for redeployment to South Africa two days after the initial diplomatic postings were announced, adding that Tuggar, who resigned from Tinubu’s cabinet afterwards to contest governorship election in Bauchi State, later conveyed the request to the president, who eventually approved it.

He also thanked Sam Enang, who was originally posted to South Africa, for agreeing to swap postings and move to Germany instead.

The former minister dismissed reports alleging that Germany formally rejected him, describing the claims as ‘false,’ ‘malicious,’ and “a complete fabrication.”

He accused an unnamed online publication of publishing sensational and defamatory reports aimed at embarrassing him, the Federal Government, and Tinubu.

The development comes amid growing scrutiny over the acceptance of Nigeria’s newly appointed ambassadors by several countries.

In March, the Presidency confirmed that only 10 out of more than 60 ambassadors and envoys nominated by Tinubu had received approval from their host countries weeks after their nomination.

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, had said countries including the United Kingdom, France, the United States, Ireland, Qatar, Benin Republic, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Senegal and Sierra Leone had accepted Nigeria’s envoys, while responses from other countries were still being awaited.

Before ambassadors can formally assume office, receiving countries are required to grant diplomatic approval known as agrément.

Reports had also indicated that some countries, including India, were hesitant to approve a number of the nominees, allegedly because President Tinubu has less than two years left in his current tenure.

The ICIR reports that Fani-Kayode is expected to help address xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and citizens of other countries residing in South Africa as part of his roles.

Wike under fire over Wuye Hospital land converted to private estate

Nanji Nandang VENLEY
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Wike under fire over Wuye Hospital land converted to private estate

OUTRAGE has continued to trail the conversion of a plot of land originally designated for a public health facility in Abuja’s Wuye District into a private residential estate under the administration of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike.

In April, the Federal Capital Territory Administration converted a large parcel of land originally designated for public use and allocated it to a private developer, Full Moon Estate Developers Ltd, for a residential project.

The land, identified as Plot 546, Cadastral Zone B03, Wuye District, Abuja, covers 3.171 hectares, located directly opposite the Wuye Ultra-Modern Market and adjacent to the Wuye Police Station. Reports show that the entire site has been fenced with barbed wire, while construction activities by the developer are already underway.

According to Daily Trust, information displayed on the project signboard lists the development as a “Residential Development” on “Plot No. 546 CAD Zone B03 Wuye. A developer, Full Moon Estate Developers Ltd is handling the project, with file number FCDA/DC/BP/RSD/PHSII/31854. Approval date for the project was March 5, 2026, and the site engineer is listed as Ose Peter Afeanaje.

Construction has been ongoing at the site, with trucks transporting building materials and heavy equipment into the premises. A review of the Abuja Master Plan for Wuye District by the newspaper indicates that Plot 546 was originally designated for the construction of a health facility, consistent with provisions made for similar districts across the FCT.

Critics say the conversion of the land from public healthcare use to private residential development undermines the integrity of the capital city’s planning and raises broader concerns over the increasing alteration of lands originally reserved for public infrastructure.

A 2025 report shows that healthcare delivery has remained a huge challenge in the nation’s capital as public hospitals, including the National Hospital Abuja and the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, are frequently overwhelmed, forcing some patients to wait in hallways, sit on floors, or be referred elsewhere because of a lack of available bed space.

The crisis had become so severe that the House of Representatives recently called on the Federal Government and the FCT Administration to declare a state of emergency in Abuja’s health sector.

Lawmakers warned that hospitals in the city are “overwhelmed and understaffed,” citing inadequate infrastructure, shortages of doctors and nurses, and insufficient medical equipment. They also noted that Abuja’s population has grown significantly over the last two decades without a corresponding expansion in public healthcare facilities.

Experts said that instead of establishing more healthcare facilities to reduce pressure on existing hospitals and improve emergency response capacity across the capital city, the minister and his team at the FCTA are focused on allocating land to private developer.

Urban development stakeholders have also raised concerns over what they describe as growing encroachment on lands earmarked for public utilities, including healthcare, green areas, drainage systems, and recreational facilities.

Town planners and architects familiar with the Abuja Master Plan argue that plots designated for hospitals are strategically selected based on population projections, accessibility, and emergency response considerations, warning that replacing such infrastructure with residential housing could have long-term consequences for residents.

The controversy has further intensified scrutiny of the Wike administration’s land allocation policies, with critics accusing the FCT Administration of prioritising commercial interests over public welfare.

Analysts warn that the ease with which a plot reserved for public healthcare could be converted into a private estate raises concerns about the security of other lands designated for schools, parks, and essential infrastructure within the capital city.

The Abuja Master Plan, conceived to guide orderly urban development in the nation’s capital, has long been regarded as a foundational framework intended to protect Abuja from the chaotic expansion and infrastructural pressures experienced in other major Nigerian cities.

 

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