Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civic Education (CHRICED), yesterday, re-awoke the advocacy for the rights of indigenous people of Abuja.
It urged the United Nations to amplify the voices and struggles of the indigenes, through diplomatic interventions.
“We demand a stop to the violation of their rights to belonging, history and legacy,” the group said. Besides, the civil society organisation demanded that, “Nigeria must be held accountable to fulfill its constitutional and international human rights obligations.
The Executive Director, Dr. Ibrahim Zikirullahi, in his presentation at the 17th session of the Expert Mechanism for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland, said: “We are honoured to be here, thanks to the generous support of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
“On July 18, 2023, we presented the case of over 2.5 million indigenous people known as Abuja Original Inhabitants (AOIs) of Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), consisting of nine tribes and 17 chiefdoms, who are facing challenges of landlessness, statelessness, and extinction of their culture.”
We stressed that without rectifying the injustice done to them, their future remains very bleak.
“ Following that event, there have been some positive developments, including the appointment of an Abuja native as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (for the first time), the appointment of a native youth as a Mandate Secretary for Area Council Secretariat, the establishment of FCT Civil Service Commission, and the creation of FCT Women Affairs Secretariat.
“ While we acknowledge the progress made, it is disheartening to note that almost all the principal officers of the new governance structures created are non-natives and therefore may not represent the interests of the Abuja indigenous people.
“Also, it is unfortunate that, to this day, most of the indigenous people, whose land was taken by Military Decree 6 of 1976 for the establishment of the new capital territory, have not been compensated or resettled. Instead, the demolition of their settlements has intensified, leading to increased homelessness in the name of development expansion. The Nigerian government has failed to uphold its commitments to respect and protect the rights of the Abuja indigenous people.”
He added: “Presently, many indigenous communities in Abuja still lack access to essential health and educational facilities, as well as basic infrastructure such as roads, clean water and sanitation.”
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