Why Suleja deserves a medical university

Old Abuja, now (Suleja) Emirate comprises what is today Bwari, AMAC, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Suleja Emirate sacrificed about 80 per cent of its land for what is today the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), while Plateau State (now Nasarawa State) contributed 16 per cent to South-east territory and Kwara State (now Kogi State) contributed four per cent to South-west territory. Aside sacrificing its land for the success of the capital city, since 1976, what is left of Suleja area is now a satellite area to the FCT overstretching all the utilities and other infrastructure.

Despite this, Suleja area has remained abandoned by successive FG administrations since 1976 when the FCT was created. This is in sharp contrast to Keffi Emirate, which also ‘donated’ some land to the FCT and today has a Federal Medical Centre. The Old Kwara State, which (now Kogi) which part of its land formed the FCT today also have a Federal Medical Centre and a Federal University at Lokoja.

However, Suleja General Hospital, which was established in 1969, has continued to serve not only Suleja Emirate, but the entire Nigerians in the FCT residing in the overpopulated town. The General Hospital today is grossly overstretched.

The Bill for the establishment of the National University of Medical and Health Science (NUMHS), sponsored by Senator Mohammed Sani, which passed second reading and just concluded public hearing will be a huge relief to Suleja and the surrounding area including FCT. It will be a first attempt by any administration in Nigeria since 1976 to have something significant on ground as a “thank you gesture” for not only the people of Suleja, but the old Suleja Emirate.

Aside being an economic hub where residence of the FCT, Kogi and Nasarawa states patronise for commercial purpose on daily basis, Suleja is the “New York and Silicon Valley” of Niger State where it is no second to any city in the entire state including the capital city, Minna, through employment creation and generating highest Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) to the state, yet it has not been found worthy either by the federal or state governments to have a single tertiary education institution.

The large turnout of public officials, private individuals, professional groups and stakeholders that attended the public hearing on the bill for the establishment of NUMHS is testimony that the people of the Old Abuja Emirate are indeed eager to have the university.

In recognition of the enormous sacrifices of Suleja people to the country, the 9th Assembly should immediately pass the bill and Mr. President should sign it into law for the establishment of the NUMHS at Suleja as an acknowledgment of the important role of Suleja in the history of FCT and Nigeria as a whole.

Yahaya Ibrahim Umar sent this piece from Anguwan Iya, Suleja