Odita Sunday 
By Odita Sunday
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called for the conversion of the official residence built for Vice President Kashim Shettima in Abuja into a General Hospital for low-income and vulnerable Nigerians, following the continued non-use of the facility for its intended purpose.
The group said turning the facility into a public hospital would provide Nigerians with a tangible benefit from the billions of naira already spent on a project that has remained the subject of public scrutiny.
In a statement issued on 21st September 2026, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, National Coordinator, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), said the continued non-utilisation of the residence had reinforced the concerns previously raised by the organisation over the project.
The residence, located in Abuja’s Three Arms Zone, was commissioned in June 2024 after the Federal Capital Territory Administration revived and completed a project originally awarded in 2010 and left unfinished for several years. Reports have put the completed project’s cost at about N21 billion, while other accounts have cited a revised contract value of N22 billion.
Despite the commissioning, Vice President Kashim Shettima has continued to use Akinola Aguda House within the Presidential Complex as his official residence, according to recent reports.
HURIWA said the situation raises questions about the utilisation of a facility specifically constructed to serve as the Vice President’s official residence.
The organisation recalled that it had previously criticised the decision to commit billions of naira to the project at a time when many Nigerians were facing economic hardship following major government reforms.
HURIWA had described the expenditure as an “intolerable error of judgment”, arguing that government should place greater emphasis on reducing the cost of governance and improving citizens’ welfare.
The association said the continued non-use of the residence makes it necessary for government to provide Nigerians with a transparent account of the project, including its original contract sum, variations, additional allocations, total expenditure, scope of work and the reasons it has not been used for its intended purpose.
HURIWA also cautioned against committing additional public funds to the facility without first explaining why the substantial expenditure already incurred has not resulted in the intended use of the building.
The group said if the facility still requires significant work before it can be occupied, Nigerians deserve to know what remains outstanding and why such requirements were not adequately addressed before the project was completed and commissioned.
Recent reports have also noted that the Presidency has not publicly provided a detailed explanation for why the Vice President has not relocated to the purpose-built residence, although some reports have cited possible security concerns.
HURIWA said the controversy should not become an excuse for further spending but should instead prompt government to consider whether the facility can be put to a different public purpose.
The organisation consequently proposed converting the residence into a General Hospital to provide healthcare for low-income earners, unemployed Nigerians and other vulnerable residents of Abuja.
According to HURIWA, such a move would transform an underutilised public asset into a facility capable of addressing an immediate social need, particularly at a time when access to affordable healthcare remains a concern for many Nigerians.
The group stressed that its proposal was not targeted at the office or person of the Vice President but was aimed at promoting what it described as responsible management of public assets and ensuring maximum public value from government expenditure.
HURIWA maintained that where substantial public resources have been committed to an asset that is not serving its original purpose, government should consider whether the facility can be repurposed to meet pressing public needs.
The organisation said a General Hospital serving poor and vulnerable Nigerians would provide a more direct public benefit from the facility than allowing it to remain underutilised.
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