Stop Transforming Our Sacred Sites into Estates, FCT Natives Urge FG
The original inhabitants of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, have implored the Federal Government to cease the demolition and transformation of revered indigenous sites, such as graveyards, shrines, and historical monuments, into opulent estates and commercial hubs.
Speaking on behalf of the natives during a grand cultural rally in Abuja to commemorate the 2025 United Nations International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, Executive Director of the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), Ibrahim Zikirullahi, contended that this trend displaces original custodians and obliterates centuries-old heritage.
Zikirullahi stated that both the government and private developers have supplanted sacred indigenous sites, including burial grounds and historical landmarks, with luxurious estates and commercial centers.
He cautioned that the persistent displacement of these communities infringes upon their rights and imperils their cultural heritage.
He urged the Federal Government to reclaim lands in the FCT and restore them to their indigenous proprietors.
He declared, “This rally is an act of defiance. It is a reclamation of space—physical, political, and cultural. It is a call for justice. We urge the Nigerian government, development partners, and civil society to act with urgency and integrity.
“We demand land restitution and fair compensation for displaced communities, political inclusion through affirmative representation, and economic empowerment through targeted investments, education, and job creation.”
Furthermore, Coordinator of the coalition of FCT Indigenous Associations, Shittu Shidawa, while endorsing Zikirullahi’s assertion, called for political recognition, legal protections, and restoration of ancestral land rights.
He characterized the struggle as a fundamental issue of identity and survival, noting that unlike other regions, the FCT indigenous communities seek recognition as Nigerians, legal assurances, and the return of their lands.
Shidawa recounted personal experiences of exclusion, including an alleged denial of proper recognition on the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) portal in 2004, which he claimed curtailed career opportunities for many indigenous youths in fields like engineering and medicine.
Invoking the 1999 Constitution, Shidawa argued that the Federal Government should implement a framework granting indigenous communities authority over the Federal Capital Sector (FCS) while preserving the Federal Capital City (FCC) as a distinct entity.
He condemned ongoing displacement, stating, “Today, Nigerians are expelling fellow Nigerians from their ancestral lands. This is intolerable.”
Africa Director of the MacArthur Foundation, Dr. Kole Shettima, underscored that cultural recognition must accompany efforts to achieve political and economic empowerment.
“As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 elections, land restitution, political inclusion, and economic empowerment must be paramount priorities for all stakeholders,” he asserted.
