Suleja Residents Demand Halt to Market Conversion of IBBU Land

Residents of Suleja, Niger State, organized a protest against the planned conversion of land designated for the Suleja Campus of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU) into a market. The Suleja Development Association (SUDA), led by National President Mohammed Ishaq, called on Governor Mohammed Bago to halt the conversion, asserting that the land was originally acquired for educational purposes.

Ishaq, represented by Prof. Sulieman Abdul, highlighted the historical significance of the area, known as Field Base, which served as an operational base for the Federal Capital Development Authority during the construction of Abuja. The land was formally handed over to the Suleja community on October 30, 2007, by former Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu.

The community welcomed the allocation for the university campus but expressed concerns over the market conversion. Ishaq emphasized the need for more educational facilities in Suleja and criticized the government's decision to revoke the land allocation and sign a Memorandum of Understanding with a private developer for market construction without community engagement.