A dispute over property is dividing Nigerian nurses. Members are campaigning against a proposal to sell Nurses House, the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives’ (NANNM) building at Plot PC 43, Churchgate Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. The sale would help fund the association’s development project in Durumi, Abuja.
What opponents say
- Their slogan is “Build Abuja. Don’t sell Lagos.” They say they support the Abuja project but not funding it by selling a historic Lagos asset.
- They point out that NANNM already holds other assets in Abuja, including residential property, a guest house and undeveloped land.
- The Lagos building earns rental income from commercial tenants.
Why the building matters
NANNM was founded on 8 December 1977 at City Hall, Lagos, bringing together earlier groups including the professional association formed at UCH Ibadan in 1957. According to its pioneer Executive General Secretary, Oba Moses Adelani A. Olabode, the building was developed under a roughly 25-year arrangement: a developer built and ran it commercially before it returned to NANNM. Former national president Abdrafiu Alani Adeniji and former Lagos chairman Olurotimi Julius Awojide are among those who have spoken about its history and argued for keeping it.
What we don’t know yet
No sale price, Abuja project cost or final decision has been made public, and NANNM’s national leadership has not issued a public response in the reports we have seen. We will update this story when it does.
Are you a NANNM member? Should the Lagos building be sold? Tell us in the comments.
Source: Fellow Nurses Africa (2 September 2026).