By Oso Abidemi
Indigenous residents of Abuja, under the Coalition of the FCT Nine Indigenous Peoples (COFIP), have called for the creation of a Federal Capital Territory Indigenous Peoples Development Commission (FCT-IPDC), to address their displacement, protect cultural heritage, and promote socio-economic inclusion.
Speaking at the North Central Zonal Public Hearing on constitutional review held in Lafia, Nasarawa State, group leader Engr. Shittu S. Chidawa demanded amendments to the 1999 Constitution to recognize indigenous FCT inhabitants, ensure fair compensation for displaced communities, and guarantee political representation.
Chidawa also called for an elected FCT governor, the establishment of a State House of Assembly, and the restoration of local government structures to strengthen grassroots democracy.
“We are not asking for privileges, we are demanding our rights as Nigerians,” he said, stressing the need to review the Land Use Act as it applies to the FCT, which currently vests land control in the federal government and strips natives of traditional land rights.
COFIP urged lawmakers to guarantee employment quotas, scholarships, and land restitution for indigenous communities.
The group cited international laws such as the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights in support of their demands.
“Our people are losing their languages, farmlands, and traditional systems,” Chidawa warned. “Without action, our heritage may vanish completely.”
They also proposed full autonomy for FCT area councils, constitutional protection for local elections, and cultural preservation programs to counteract the erosion of indigenous identity caused by rapid urbanization.
