Call for Legislative Action to Protect Indigenous Rights in Abuja
Media representatives gathered in Abuja on Thursday, urging the National Assembly to swiftly pass a bill aimed at safeguarding the rights of the Abuja Indigenous People (AOI). This call was made in light of ongoing political, economic, and social marginalization that has persisted since the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was established decades ago.
The appeal arose from a one-day summit focusing on environmental justice and the rights of indigenous populations. Participants emphasized that the proposed legislation is essential for establishing a framework that addresses the long-standing injustices experienced by the original inhabitants, particularly following the government’s appropriation of their ancestral lands in 1976 for capital development.
A communiqué, endorsed by journalists from various media outlets, including Adewale Adeoye, Kasali Akinwale, Usman Kadir, and Maryam Usman, highlighted the bill as a transformative measure. It aims to transition from temporary benefits to concrete institutional provisions that will tackle the core issues affecting over two million indigenous residents within the FCT.
Participants noted that numerous countries have already implemented legal protections for their indigenous communities. They called for the integration of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted in 2007, along with relevant conventions from the International Labor Organization (ILO), into Nigerian law.
The current landscape, they remarked, belies Abuja’s status as one of Africa’s most modern capitals, as many former landowners still grapple with inadequate access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. They contended that merely appointing individuals from indigenous communities to political roles does not rectify the entrenched structural injustices.
The summit, organized by the Indigenous Journalists Network and supported by the Human Rights and Civic Education Resource Center and the MacArthur Foundation, featured media training sessions focused on enhancing coverage of environmental issues and indigenous rights.
In his address, Vanguard’s Editor-in-Chief, Wale Akinola, called for journalists to elevate indigenous voices and broaden their environmental reporting scope beyond oil spills and gas explosions to encompass deforestation, displacement, and land rights. He underlined the importance of accuracy, cultural sensitivity, and data-driven narratives for credible journalism.
Akinola also pointed out that the relocation to Abuja had resulted in significant loss of ancestral lands and declining livelihoods for indigenous communities, thereby underscoring the necessity for comprehensive legal measures to address these grievances.
Echoing these sentiments, former news editor of The Punch, Felix Obogwina, emphasized the need for ongoing advocacy to secure the passage of the proposed bill, asserting that the movement requires a strong and coherent voice to effectively champion this cause.
During the summit, participants proposed several recommendations, including establishing an AOI bill of rights, providing compensation, enhancing access to education and healthcare, and forming a legally recognized coalition to unify demands and strengthen advocacy efforts. They also called for Abuja to be granted statehood and the creation of a centralized body for indigenous groups to engage with stakeholders and document their concerns.
Addressing the issues faced by Abuja’s original residents, the summit concluded, would not only strengthen democracy but also promote justice and encourage inclusive national development.
