The Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, has ordered the ongoing construction of lock-up shops at the Karu Primary Healthcare Centre undertaken by the Abuja Municipal Area Council in partnership with a private developer to stop with immediate effect.
The Minister who gave the stop work order during an inspection tour of facilities at the primary healthcare centre, also revealed that the FCT Administration would set up a committee to ascertain the viability of the ongoing construction work at the primary healthcare centre.
Aliyu, who expressed strong reservation over the location of Karu primary healthcare centre noted that the centre was not serene due to the proximity of the abattoir and other commercial activities around the healthcare facility.
She, however, affirmed that the construction of additional lock-up shops by the Abuja Municipal Area Council within the premises of the primary healthcare centre could compound the existing situation.
According to her, “It is pertinent to put a stop to this ongoing construction work. A ministerial committee will be set up with effect from today for immediate action and the scope will be made known to you.
“Membership will include even the operators of the abatoir.
“Having the abattoir here alone is hazardous to the functions of the primary healthcare not to talk of a commercial place again.
“It could be acceptable to have the Sickle Cell Center or the AMAC health secretariat. We will look at this and other land functions that could be allocated, but certainly it is unhealthy to have these shops here.
“It is already bad enough to have the raw meat sellers within the vicinity and it will be worst to allow other commercial activities to go on here. If we must change the land use, we must engage the community effectively because you cannot have a hospital or healthcare centre where there are so many noisy activities”.
Earlier, the Director of Works, Abuja Municipal Area Council, Arc. Gaza Andrew, informed the minister that the initial project was the completion of the abandoned Sickle Cell Centre and AMAC Healthcare Centre, stressing that with the involvement of Development Control the council later added the design for corner shops.
“Right here is an abandoned foundation of a sickle cell center, it was abandoned for over 10 years. The paramount ruler personally in 2020 wrote to us that due to the growing cases of sickle cell this project should be completed,” he affirmed.
Emmanuel Ukoh
