Residents of Mawogi, Dogo Ruwa, Gigbe, and Tugan Usman communities in Abaji Area Council continue to face severe hardship accessing basic healthcare, with reports indicating that pregnant women, nursing mothers, and caregivers of newborns trek for over an hour to reach the nearest facility for zero-dose vaccines, antenatal, and postnatal care, as no functional hospital exists in their communities.
Previously, Chronicles Reporters published allegations that funds allocated under the Community and Social Development Project (CSDP)—meant for constructing and renovating healthcare facilities—were allegedly diverted to a private company linked to the HOD of Health, Dr. Mansur Saleh Ashafa, under threat and coercion of community members. The report stated that ₦11,950,061 intended for the Mawogi clinic was transferred from the community-managed account to Shamgaj Integrated Service Limited, allegedly controlled by Dr. Ashafa. The report also suggested complicity by the Abaji Area Council Chairman due to lack of investigation.
However, in a public clarification issued by Dr. Mansur Saleh Ashafa, the allegations were vehemently denied as false, malicious, and deliberately misleading. The statement, issued through legal counsel and signed by Malam Bukar Ali, provides key points in Dr. Ashafa’s defense:
• CSDP funds are community-controlled: Dr. Ashafa asserts that funds are paid directly to community accounts, with communities selecting service providers under strict CSDP operational procedures. No government official has authority to unilaterally redirect these funds.
• No diversion of funds occurred: The company alleged to be linked to Dr. Ashafa, Shamgaj Integrated Service Limited, has no documented connection to him, and there is no financial trail supporting claims of conflict of interest or self-dealing.
• Project advocacy and supervision: Dr. Ashafa claims he secured Abaji’s inclusion in the World Bank CSDP program, ensuring the council became the highest beneficiary in the FCT, with 12 communities approved for two projects each. He supervised projects to ensure proper execution, and additional council funds were personally approved by Hon. Abubakar Umar Abdullahi, the council chairman, to complete the Mawogi clinic beyond the limited CSDP allocation.
• Documentation exists: According to the statement, all project activities—including bank statements, payment records, community resolutions, and CSDP supervision reports—fully document transparency, compliance, and due process.
Dr. Ashafa’s response emphasizes that the allegations represent vindictive journalism, character assassination, and deliberate misinformation, aimed at discrediting officials who have contributed to grassroots development. The statement warns that legal action will be pursued against Chronicles Reporters unless the outlet retracts the story and issues a formal apology.
While Dr. Ashafa disputes any wrongdoing, community members continue to face urgent healthcare challenges, trekking long distances due to a lack of functional facilities. Whether or not the funds were properly allocated, the human cost remains high, highlighting a gap between program administration and the on-the-ground realities of rural healthcare in Abaji.
Authorities, including the EFCC, ICPC, and FCT Administration, may still need to audit CSDP projects and verify transparency claims, to reassure residents and stakeholders that funds reach intended beneficiaries and that communities do not remain abandoned.
The Mawogi community and others affected continue to call for functional healthcare infrastructure, underscoring that the debate over fund allocation has very real consequences for maternal and child health.