By Peace Udugba
A Civil Society group under the aegis of the Centre for Human Rights and Advocacy in Africa Network has strongly condemned the demolition of the multi-billion naira Cancer Center at Margaret Lawrence University Teaching Hospital (MLUTH) by officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
In a statement released on Saturday, the group described the action as “reckless and insensitive,” stressing that the facility was one of the few equipped to provide life-saving cancer diagnosis and treatment in Nigeria.
They warned that the demolition would set back Nigeria’s healthcare goals, especially in cancer care, where the country already suffers from inadequate infrastructure. The group called for a thorough investigation into the FCTA’s actions and demanded accountability.
They also urged the federal government to intervene and ensure that the cancer center is rebuilt, stressing that lives were at stake and healthcare infrastructure must not be politicized or destroyed without due process.
The world-class University Teaching Hospital is located within the upscale River Park Estate in Abuja.
Construction of the Cancer Center began a year ago, with significant progress already made at the project site. However, on Saturday, September 13, 2025, bulldozers from the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) moved into River Park Estate—where the massive University Teaching Hospital is located—and demolished the structure, reducing it to rubble.
In a statement issued on Sunday and co-signed by its Executive Director, Mr. Henry Abba, and Director of Programmes, Michael Ikwebe, the group condemned the demolition as “high-handed, insensitive, barbaric, and unacceptable.” They strongly criticized the action of the FCT Administration, rejecting it in its entirety. The group further noted that, based on information available to them, the FCTA provided no official reason for carrying out the demolition.
The Civil Society Organization expressed shock and disbelief that a demolition of such magnitude could occur in contemporary Nigeria. It questioned the motives of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), especially within a high-value estate like River Park. According to the group, the demolition has caused widespread panic among residents, as the action contradicts earlier statements by the FCT Minister, which indicated that only undeveloped portions of land were to be repossessed.
“This structure was already a fully developed, functional project,” the group stated, calling for clarity and accountability from the FCTA.
But what we have in this instance is a project that was commissioned over a year ago and has seen active development ever since. We have it on good authority that the FCTA officials moved in and demolished the structure without any prior notice,” the group stated.
“In fact, they spent the entire day carrying out the demolition, showing clear intent and coordination in what they were doing,” the group added, expressing deep concern over the lack of transparency and due process in such a high-impact action.
The Executive Director described the action of the FCTA as highly condemnable, unacceptable, and one carried out in bad faith. According to the group, the demolition was not only “ill-timed but wicked,” alleging that it was part of a broader FCTA policy aimed at reclaiming portions of land within the estate.
The group lamented that “we are under siege in this country, and nobody seems to be talking.” It described as both legally and morally wrong the decision of the FCTA to enter a private estate and demolish a University Teaching Hospital Cancer Center without prior notice — and on a Saturday.
Saturday’s demolition, the CSO stated, followed the destruction of 35 other structures within the estate in just three days, allegedly on the directive of the Ministerial Taskforce set up by the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike.
The statement further alleged that what is happening in River Park Estate is a “land grabbing” scheme disguised as urban development. It added, “We strongly condemn the continued demolition of structures in River Park Estate, Abuja, by the FCTA under the watch of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
The group queried, When has a project under construction become an undeveloped space in the estate? stressing that such an action defies logic and lawful procedure.
It appealed to the FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike, to urgently call the “Ministerial Committee” to order, alleging that the committee is acting beyond the scope of the report earlier approved by the Minister.
Meanwhile, all efforts to reach the management of Margaret Lawrence University Teaching Hospital proved abortive, as calls placed to their official lines were not connecting.
