Exclusive: Federal Medical Varsity Kwale May Be Hijacked Over Delta Govt’s Failure To Provide Land

…FG Lists Delta Among State Yet To Surrender Land For School
…South-South Politicians Plot To Hijack School Over Govt Delay
…FG Awaits Delta To Provide Land – Education Minister

By Ovie Okpare

There are strong indications that the Federal Government may revoke the recently approved Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Kwale, if the Delta State Government fails to provide land where the specialised institution would be sited, NIGER DELTA TODAY can exclusively report.

Investigations revealed that powerful politicians from other states of the South-South are already scheming for the school to be moved to their states if the state government was not willing to release land to Federal Government for the school.

 

Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Kwale, was among the new higher institutions approved in May 2023 by former President Muhammadu Buhari and reaffirmed by his successor, President Bola Tinubu in October this year.

Meant to be located across the six geopolitical zones, the slot for South-South was given to Delta State through the effort of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, the immediate past Deputy Senate President, who facilitated the location of the institution to Kwale, Delta North Senatorial District of the state.

Speaking in May while hosting a delegation from Ndokwa/Ukwuani ethnic nationality, who were on on a thank you visit for facilitating the establishment of the institution, Senator Omo-Agege had warned the community leaders to forge a common front in ensuring that the institution comes to fruition.

Specifically, he cautioned that failure to provide the land for the institution, it would be hijacked by other powerful politicians in the South-South who would influence its relocation to their states.

The delegation was led by a former member of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Mercy Almona-Isei.

 

NIGER DELTA TODAY Online learnt that unnamed powerful politicians are already lobbying to have the institution relocated to their states.

 

Speaking on the development, Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, disclosed that Delta and Adamawa were the only states yet to provide lands to the Federal Government for the take-off and establishment of the institutions.

Prof. Mamman, who spoke at a retreat on Quick Wins in the Ministerial Deliverables (2023 to 2027) in Abuja on Thursday, said they were still awaiting Delta government to release land for the siting of the school, seven months after the Federal Government granted approval for its establishment.

He said administrative processes have been concluded for the take-off of academic activities by 2024 for higher institutions whose states have provided lands for their sitings.

 

“We are awaiting the Delta and Adamawa state governments to hand over sites for the Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Kwale, and Federal University of Agriculture, Mubi, respectively.

 

“With regard to the Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo, Ondo State and Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri, Imo State, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) have been directed to enlist them as universities. This will offer Nigerians opportunities for specialised study in the fields of education at the university level”, the minister stated.

 

On plans by powerful politicians to hijack and ensure that the school is moved to other states, our correspondent learnt that there are intense lobbyings if the Delta government fails to provide land in the next six months.

 

Sources aware of the development, called on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to ensure that Delta does not lose the school.

They recalled how the former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi made converted efforts to to scrap the Nigerian Maritime University in Okerenkoko, Delta State, eight years ago.

 

Our sources also appealed to the people of Kwale and Ndokwa Nation to urgently work with the state government for surveying and documentation of the land for the proposed medical university.

 

“Delta could be a hub for medical tourism with the establishment of the school. We are appealing to Delta governor and Kwale people to urgently release land for the school. Failure to do that, powerful politicians will move the school out of Delta. The governor should personally follow-up on the state of things with the land”, one of the sources appealed.

 

Meanwhile, efforts by our correspondent to seek official clarification from the state government through the Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Nyerhovwo John Tonukari, proved abortive.