Workers of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) Cooperative Society on Thursday staged a peaceful protest at the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Abuja, accusing the Nigerian Air Force Holding Company (NAFHC) of taking over their land in the Idu area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The demonstrators, led by the cooperative’s chairman, Emmanuel Odoh, who also serves as a Deputy Director at NPHCDA, claimed that the land in question measures 64.5 hectares and was formally allocated to them in 2006. He explained that although the allocation was regularised between 2012 and 2013, development efforts stalled until last year due to internal setbacks.
Displaying placards with messages such as “We are all citizens of Nigeria, we have equal rights” and “Chief of Defence Staff, come to our aid”, the protesters alleged that the Air Force company had moved into the land despite existing court injunctions. Odoh also accused the company of intimidation and destruction of property at the site.
He appealed for intervention from President Bola Tinubu, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, and the Executive Director of the NPHCDA to forestall further crisis.
Responding to the allegations, the Nigerian Air Force, through its spokesperson, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, dismissed the claims. “The NAF did not forcefully take anyone’s land. NAFILHCC legally purchased the land, and the matter is now under review. The original seller has been contacted to meet with the claimant to resolve the dispute before the FCDA,” Ejodame clarified.
An official of the Ministry of Defence later addressed the aggrieved workers, assuring them that their complaint would be thoroughly reviewed and that the Minister of Defence may request further explanations from the Chief of Air Staff.
