As preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) begins the review of its Abuja Master Plan, groups representing the territory’s Original Inhabitants have begun efforts to secure greater political inclusion, land rights and integration into the city’s development framework.
The Abuja Original Inhabitants and Youths Empowerment Organization (AOIYEO), in collaboration with the FCT Stakeholders Assembly and the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), with support from the MacArthur Foundation, is coordinating consultations to develop a Charter of Demands for presentation to political candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.
The groups said the document would contain key demands on the rights, political representation, cultural preservation and socio-economic development of the Original Inhabitants (OIs) of the FCT.
The Executive Director of AOIYEO, Amb. Isaac David, disclosed this in Abuja during a consultative meeting on Abuja Original Community Policies and Integration Guidelines.
David said the resolutions from the consultation would be presented to the FCT Minister, relevant government agencies and the bodies responsible for reviewing the Abuja Master Plan.
He added that the document would also be presented to politicians seeking the support and votes of FCT residents during the 2027 elections.
According to him, the initiative is aimed at ensuring that the concerns of Original Inhabitants are reflected in the ongoing review of the Master Plan, which has guided the development of Abuja for decades.
“We want our positions to be properly captured in the review of the Master Plan and presented to the authorities. We will also present the document to politicians seeking our votes so that they can make commitments on the issues affecting our people,” David said.
He identified some of the concerns as alleged demolitions of indigenous communities, displacement from ancestral lands, inadequate infrastructure and the absence of adequate political structures that would enable residents of the FCT to elect their own governor and state legislators.
David urged participants to deliberate on the challenges confronting Original Inhabitants and develop practical recommendations that could address what he described as longstanding injustices.
He, however, commended the FCT Minister for ongoing infrastructure development in some indigenous communities, saying the Original Inhabitants appreciated efforts that had improved infrastructure in parts of the territory.
Master Plan Must Protect Indigenous Communities — Kwali
The President of the FCT Stakeholders Assembly, Dr Aliyu Daniel Kwali, said the Abuja Master Plan, which has been in operation since 1979, did not adequately address the needs of the indigenous settlements within the Federal Capital Territory.
Kwali said some settlements affected by the original development plan were expected to be compensated and resettled, but the arrangements were not fully implemented, partly because of funding challenges.
He said subsequent efforts to integrate indigenous communities into Abuja’s development had also not achieved the desired results.
Kwali called for a development framework that would recognise the rights, heritage and contributions of Original Inhabitants to the growth of Abuja.
“Genuine development does not require the erasure of the people on whose land it stands. Consultation, fair compensation and cultural preservation are not obstacles to progress; they are conditions for progress that lasts,” he said.
He also called for greater unity among the various indigenous groups in the FCT, including the Gbagyi, Koro, Gwari, Bassa, Gwandara and Ganagana communities.
According to him, unity among the Original Inhabitants is essential to ensuring that their concerns receive adequate attention from policymakers.
“We believe that progress must honour heritage. Indigenous knowledge is not a relic of the past but a resource for the future and a foundation for guaranteed peace and prosperity,” Kwali said.
Groups Demand Consultative Forum, AGIS Mapping
Kwali urged stakeholders to ensure that the recommendations contained in the final document included clear monitoring mechanisms and implementation frameworks.
Among the key proposals identified at the meeting were the development of monitoring frameworks and measurable parameters for achieving the objectives of the policy; integration programmes aligned with the interests of Original Inhabitants; and formal adoption of their views in the Master Plan review process.
Other demands include the establishment of an Abuja Consultative Forum, mapping of indigenous settlements on the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS) platform and the establishment of a commission or appropriate institutional framework dedicated to addressing the concerns of Original Inhabitants.
He urged stakeholders to ensure that the proposals were clearly documented and submitted to the relevant authorities for consideration during the Master Plan review.
Kwali thanked participants for attending the consultation and commended the MacArthur Foundation, through CHRICED, for its support for initiatives promoting the rights and inclusion of indigenous communities.
Engagement Committee Inaugurated
A major highlight of the meeting was the inauguration of an engagement committee to facilitate further consultations and accelerate discussions on the proposed policies and demands.
Kwali also acknowledged what he described as increased recognition of the FCT’s indigenous population by the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He said the ongoing engagement was an opportunity for stakeholders to consolidate their demands and establish a framework for sustainable development that would balance the growth of Abuja with the rights and heritage of its Original Inhabitants.
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