Original inhabitants of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have called on the government to prioritise their inclusion in governance and ensure that their rights to ancestral lands are respected and protected.
The call was made in Abuja during a cultural rally organised to commemorate the 2026 International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.
Stakeholders at the event urged the government to adopt policies that would protect the identity, culture and land rights of the FCT’s original inhabitants, while seeking their reintegration into communities affected by urban development, demolitions and relocation.
The Executive Director of the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), Mr Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi, said the authorities must protect the identity of the original inhabitants and ensure their meaningful participation in government affairs in the interest of justice and equity.
Zikirullahi said this year’s celebration, themed “Celebrating Indigenous Midwives: Preserving Abuja Original Inhabitants Identity in a Changing World,” was an opportunity to draw attention to the challenges facing indigenous communities in the FCT.
He said CHRICED, with support from the MacArthur Foundation, had for years advocated the rights and inclusion of the FCT’s original inhabitants.
> “As Abuja continues to evolve into a modern capital, the identity of its Original Inhabitants must never be erased, diluted or forgotten.
> “Their languages, customs, land rights, cultural expressions and contributions to national development must be recognised, respected and protected.”
According to him, the struggle for inclusion is not only about land but also about justice, cultural continuity and the dignity of communities whose history predates the establishment of Abuja as Nigeria’s capital.
Zikirullahi also announced the proposed establishment of the Abuja Original Inhabitants Heritage Centre, saying construction was expected to commence soon.
He explained that the centre would provide a dedicated space for preserving indigenous history, cultural memory and research, while enabling future generations to learn about and celebrate the heritage of Abuja’s original inhabitants.
He appealed for financial and material support from individuals, organisations and development partners to facilitate the project.
Zikirullahi commended the MacArthur Foundation, the University of Abuja, the CHRICED Board of Directors and organisations of the FCT’s original inhabitants for their support and collaboration.
He said development should not come at the expense of cultural identity, stressing that indigenous knowledge, including traditional midwifery practices, remained relevant to contemporary society.
He also commended traditional rulers, civil society organisations, diplomats, development partners and indigenous communities for their contributions towards preserving the heritage of the FCT’s original inhabitants.
Indigenous communities must remain united
The Director of the Centre for Indigenous Studies and Community Development at the University of Abuja, Prof. M.S. Dada, called on the original inhabitants to remain united in their quest for recognition and protection of their rights.
Delivering a keynote address titled “Preserving the Indigenous Identity in a Changing World,” Dada urged elders and traditional rulers to continue documenting and transmitting the history and cultural heritage of their communities.
He challenged young people to learn their indigenous languages and preserve the knowledge passed down by their elders.
> “Identity you do not claim, someone else will define for you,” he said.
Dada also urged government and policymakers to ensure that development projects did not result in the erasure of the people whose ancestral lands form part of the Federal Capital Territory.
He said consultation, fair compensation and cultural preservation should be regarded as essential components of sustainable development rather than obstacles to progress.
The don further called on institutions of learning to ensure that research involving indigenous communities benefits the people being studied.
He urged the various indigenous groups, including Gbagyi, Koro, Gwari, Bassa, Gwandara and Ganagana, among others, to strengthen unity in order to ensure that their concerns receive adequate attention.
According to him, a fragmented indigenous population could easily be overlooked, while a united people would be better positioned to demand recognition and inclusion.
‘Original inhabitants will not be a footnote’
Dada said every capital city in the world was built on ancestral lands and that the measure of a just society was whether it recognised and honoured the original custodians of those lands.
He said the original inhabitants of Abuja should not become a footnote in the history of Nigeria’s capital but should be recognised as active participants in its development.
He added that the communities were demanding the preservation of their languages, documentation of their histories, respect for their ancestral lands and a future in which younger generations could remain connected to their heritage.
Dada said the demand for recognition and participation was consistent with international principles on indigenous peoples’ rights, including the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2007.
He said the declaration recognised the rights of indigenous peoples to maintain and strengthen their distinct institutions, cultures and traditions while participating fully in the political, economic, social and cultural life of their countries.
The stakeholders therefore called for a balance between the development of Abuja as Nigeria’s capital and the protection of the rights, identity, culture and heritage of the territory’s original inhabitants.
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