By Emmanuel Emeka
Indigenous communities of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have raised concerns over what they described as decades of marginalization, dispossession, and denial of basic rights as Abuja marks fifty years since its creation.
The concerns were raised at the FCT @ 50 World Press Conference and First Quarter Town Hall Meeting, held at the Cinema Hall, Arts and Culture Centre, Area 10, Garki, AMAC, by the FCT Stakeholders’ Assembly on Tuesday in Abuja.
Speaking on behalf of the assembly, its President, Dr. Aliyu Daniel Kwali, said the creation of the FCT on February 3, 1976, announced by the then Military Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Mohammed, holds a painful meaning for the original inhabitants despite the government’s celebration of achievements in infrastructure and urban development.
Dr. Kwali stated that the past fifty years have been marked by socio-economic segregation, political exclusion, loss of ancestral lands, forced demolitions, destruction of cultural heritage, and persistent poverty among Indigenous FCT communities.
He noted that these challenges contradict Section 42(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which guarantees freedom from discrimination, stressing that Indigenous people of the FCT continue to face restrictions not experienced by citizens in other states.
According to him, forced demolitions remain one of the most visible manifestations of this discrimination, often carried out without adequate notice, assessment, compensation, or resettlement. He cited communities such as Gishiri, Karsana, and Kuchibedom as examples of areas affected by such actions.
On land ownership, Dr. Kwali said the vesting of all land in the FCT in the Federal Government has deprived Indigenous communities of their livelihoods and ability to invest, describing land loss as a direct threat to survival.
Addressing the perception of Abuja as a “no man’s land,” he dismissed the claim, explaining that although initial plans involved resettlement of all inhabitants, the policy was later reversed, allowing Indigenous people to remain with assurances of political and administrative inclusion.
He also raised concerns over political exclusion, noting that despite Section 299 of the Constitution recognizing the FCT as a state for constitutional purposes, Indigenous residents cannot vote or contest in gubernatorial and State House of Assembly elections and remain under-represented in legislative and federal appointments.
Dr. Kwali further condemned the desecration of ancestral lands, burial grounds, and sacred sites, describing such actions as violations of cultural dignity and international human rights standards, including Article 26 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
As part of its advocacy, the FCT Stakeholders’ Assembly presented a Charter of Demands, calling for fair compensation and resettlement for displaced communities, recognition of customary land rights, constitutional reforms for political equality, and protection of Indigenous cultural heritage.
He concluded by calling on the Federal Government, the National Assembly, civil society organizations, and the international community to urgently address the grievances of Indigenous FCT communities, stressing that development should not be built on exclusion.
