Construction is progressing on a residential estate being developed on a plot of land originally designated for a public hospital in Abuja’s Wuye District, despite public outcry and concerns raised by residents and urban planning experts over the conversion.

A visit by Abuja Metro to the site on Monday showed that work was ongoing in earnest, with no fewer than 20 structures already at various stages of construction within the fenced property.

Workers were seen carrying out building activities across the site, while construction materials and equipment were being moved in and out by trucks and other vehicles.

The development is taking place on Plot 546, Cadastral Zone B03, Wuye District, a 3.171-hectare parcel of land originally earmarked in the Abuja Master Plan for the construction of a district health facility.

The plot, located opposite the Wuye Ultra-Modern Market and beside the Wuye Police Station, was allocated to Full Moon Estate Developers Ltd for residential development following a change of land use approved by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

The continued construction comes weeks after residents, civil society groups and town planning experts condemned the conversion of the hospital site to a private housing estate, describing it as a violation of the Abuja Master Plan and a move against public interest.

Some residents who spoke to Abuja Metro on the development expressed disappointment that construction was continuing despite earlier outcry and appeals to the FCTA to reverse the decision.

A resident, Ahmed Usman, said many residents had hoped the authorities would reconsider the conversion after concerns were raised publicly.

“We expected that after the public outcry and the concerns raised by professionals and residents, the authorities would review the decision. Unfortunately, construction is moving ahead as if our concerns do not matter,” he said.

According to him, Wuye District has grown significantly over the years and requires a government health facility to serve its expanding population.

“We need a hospital more than another private estate. The district continues to expand, and access to public healthcare remains a major challenge for many residents,” he added.

Another resident, Mrs Ngozi Okonkwo, said residents felt ignored by the authorities despite repeatedly calling for the restoration of the land to its original purpose.

“It appears our voices were not heard. We complained because the land was meant for a public hospital that would benefit everyone. Today, we are seeing houses coming up instead,” she said.

She urged the FCT Administration to place public welfare above private interests when making decisions on land originally designated for social infrastructure.

Similarly, a community stakeholder, Musa Ibrahim, described the pace of construction as alarming.

“When the story first came out, many people believed the authorities would halt the project and review the circumstances surrounding the conversion. Instead, work has accelerated and more buildings have emerged on the site,” he said.

He warned that continued alterations to land uses designated in the Abuja Master Plan could undermine the orderly development of the nation’s capital.

Abuja Metro had reported that the FCTA converted the expansive plot originally designated for a district hospital into a private residential estate.

An examination of the Abuja Master Plan for Wuye District showed that Plot 546 was reserved for a health facility intended to serve residents of the district and adjoining neighbourhoods.

The revelation triggered widespread criticism from residents and stakeholders, including urban planning experts and civil society organisations.

When Abuja Metro first reported the development, the Acting Director of the FCT Development Control Department, TPL Bashir Madaki Sanusi, confirmed that the plot was originally designated for a health centre.

He, however, explained that approval for the residential estate was granted after the department received an official communication from the Urban and Regional Planning Department indicating that the land had been redesignated for residential use and allocated to a private developer with ministerial approval.

Sanusi disclosed at the time that he initially queried the development proposal after discovering that the approved design did not correspond with the original land use.

He further revealed that following concerns raised by residents and professionals, his department ordered work to stop on the site and requested a fresh verification of the land use status from the Department of Urban and Regional Planning.

According to him, the outcome of that verification would determine the fate of the project.

However, Monday’s visit to the site showed that construction activities were continuing with multiple structures already erected and works progressing across different sections of the estate.

Efforts to obtain an update from the FCT Development Control Department on the status of the verification process and the continued construction on the site were unsuccessful as of press time, as the agency’s spokesperson promised to get back to our reporter but yet to do so. (Daily Trust)

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