Indigenous groups in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have intensified their call for the creation of new political and administrative structures, arguing that it is the only way to end decades of marginalization they have suffered since their ancestral land was acquired for Nigeria’s capital city.
The Abuja Original Inhabitants and Youth Empowerment Organization (AOIYEO), in collaboration with the FCT Stakeholders Assembly, held a joint media briefing in Abuja recently, demanding fundamental reforms that would grant them a voice in the governance and development of the FCT.
Key Demands for Political Autonomy
The groups are pushing for the establishment of a full-fledged political administrative structure for the FCT, similar to a state, which includes:
✓The Office of an Executive Governor for the FCT, elected by residents.
✓Two Additional Senatorial Seats and Twelve House of Representatives Seats to increase their representation at the National Assembly.
✓The Creation of Eight More Local Governments to bring development closer to the people.
✓An FCT State House of Assembly to provide legislative voice.
✓The Abuja Original Inhabitants Development Commission (AOIDC), to address developmental deficits and ensure equitable benefits from the FCT’s wealth.
Program Manager for AOIYEO, Ms. Annis Adegbe, and the President of the FCT Stakeholders Assembly, Dr. Aliyu Daniel Kwali, jointly addressed the media, appealing to those in authority and relevant institutions to heed their demands.
Historical Exclusion and Development Gaps
The media briefing was held as part of the “Strengthening Community Voices in Key Governance Processes” initiative, an effort supported by the MacArthur Foundation through the Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED). The project aims to amplify the voices of the FCT’s Original Inhabitants.
The groups highlighted that while Abuja has become a symbol of national unity and progress, the indigenous people whose land made it possible have been systematically excluded from its governance structures and economic benefits.
”True justice, equity, and inclusivity in the governance of the FCT can only be achieved when the Original Inhabitants are given their rightful place in the political, administrative, and developmental framework of Abuja,” a statement from AOIYEO emphasized.
The organizations pointed to severe development deficits across the six Area Councils, noting that many indigenous communities still struggle with poor access to essential services, including:
Inadequate healthcare and quality education.
Lack of potable water and poor road infrastructure.
Rising youth unemployment.
Cultural erosion, with traditional institutions often sidelined in crucial decision-making processes.
AOIYEO and the FCT Stakeholders Assembly urged the Federal Government, the National Assembly, and all stakeholders to prioritize these demands as a critical step toward achieving fairness, peace, and sustainable development in the FCT.
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