The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has approved the resumption of work on the long-abandoned Utako General Hospital and the renovation and upgrading of 14 other general hospitals across the territory.

The FCT Mandate Secretary for Health and Environmental Services, Adedolapo Fasawe, disclosed this to journalists after the 19th FCT Executive Council meeting on Tuesday, presided over by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

The intervention, she said, would involve the construction and equipping of the Utako hospital, as well as the provision of medical equipment and improvements to existing facilities across the territory.

Reviving Utako hospital

Ms Fasawe said Mr Wike had directed the immediate commencement of work at the Utako General Hospital, which has remained abandoned for years.

She said the intervention would go beyond the construction of the facility to include its equipping and staffing, with the aim of ensuring that the hospital is able to provide healthcare services when completed.

For the 14 existing general hospitals, she said the administration would procure new medical equipment, including X-ray machines and diagnostic materials, while hospital theatres would also be upgraded.

The interventions, according to her, are intended to improve access to reliable and affordable healthcare for residents of the territory.

Ms Fasawe added that the administration had also continued to meet its financial obligations to health insurance providers and health maintenance organisations (HMOs) through the regular payment of premiums and capitation.

Other council decisions

Beyond the health sector, the FCT Executive Council approved several other projects and interventions at the meeting.

The Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Chidi Amadi, said the council considered 20 memoranda presented by various secretariats, departments and agencies.

According to him, the submissions were aimed at advancing infrastructure development and improving public services across the capital.

One of the approvals was the digitalisation of the FCT High Court, covering about 67 courtrooms across its judicial divisions.

The council also approved two contracts for the supply of examination materials to primary, junior secondary and senior secondary school students across the FCT.

The Mandate Secretary for Education, Danlami Hayyo, said the initiative formed part of the administration’s broader efforts to improve public education through facility renovations, better classrooms and continued instructional support.

Mr Hayyo said the improvements had encouraged some parents to transfer their children from private schools to public schools.

The Satellite Towns Development Department (STDD) also secured approval for a N5.703 billion contract for the construction of a 33KV power supply line from Dawaki to Tukulo and surrounding villages in Bwari Area Council.

The STDD Coordinator, Abdulkadir Zulkiflu, said CGC Nigeria Limited was awarded the contract and that the project would be completed within eight months.

The council also ratified two road projects in the satellite towns that had already been completed and commissioned.

The Federal High Court in Jos, Plateau State, has stopped Jonathan Akuns from presenting himself as the governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 election.

Justice S.T. Ishaya issued the order on September 28 after considering an ex parte application filed by Alfred Dapal, a governorship aspirant challenging the party’s nomination process.

The case, marked FHC/J/CS/87/2026, has Mr Akuns as the first defendant, the NDC as the second defendant and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the third defendant.

The judge ordered Mr Akuns not to announce, publish or otherwise present himself as the NDC governorship candidate until the court hears and determines the case.

Mr Dapal told the court that he was the candidate produced by the NDC during its governorship nomination exercise held on September 15 at the party’s secretariat in Dogon Karfe, Jos North Local Government Area.

He is asking the court to stop the NDC, its officials and agents from replacing, withdrawing or removing him as the party’s candidate until the case is decided.

He also wants the court to stop the NDC from submitting Mr Akuns’ name to INEC as its governorship candidate in his place.

Mr Dapal further asked the court to prevent INEC from accepting, recognising, publishing or acting on Mr Akuns’ name as the NDC candidate for Plateau State.

Another request seeks an order directing all parties to maintain the position that existed after the September 15 nomination exercise until the case is finally determined.

The plaintiff also asked for an accelerated hearing because of the statutory deadlines for pre-election cases.

Justice Ishaya ruled that the application had succeeded in part and adjourned the case until October 5 for hearing.

The order was signed by the judge and issued under the seal of the Federal High Court by the Registrar, Chioma A. Eze.

The order does not amount to a final decision on who should hold the NDC governorship ticket in Plateau State. The court will still consider the competing claims arising from the party’s nomination process.