Again, the issue of non-inclusiveness of groups in Nigeria’s federal set-up took centrestage as indigenous youths of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) clamored to be included in the scheme of things.
They cried out for an equitable governance environment where their marginalized voices will not merely be heard, but valued and acted upon too.
They spoke under the auspices of the umbrella Abuja Original Inhabitants Youths and Empowerment Organisation (AOIYEO).
The outcry was unanimous with speaker after speaker echoing same message at a town hall meeting tagged ‘Strengthening FCT Indigenous Community Voices in Key Governance Processes’ organised by AOIYEO in collaboration with FCT Stakeholders Assembly.
They were partnered at the august event,which held in Kwali, FCT, by the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) which was funded by MacArthur Foundation.
Presenting their position in a paper on how to ‘Strengthen the Voices of the FCT Indigenous Communities in Key Governance Processes’,
president of FCT Stakeholders Assembly, Dr. Aliyu Daniel Kwali, emphasized the importance of inclusiveness, urging concerned stakeholders to ensure the actualization of the advocacy.
In a speech delivered on behalf of AOIYEO by Dr. Abubakar Sadiq Ahmed, the Project Manager of the organisation, the group reiterated that the overarching goal of the project was the promotion of the political, economic, and cultural rights of original inhabitants of the FCT.
“Through this goal, we seek to facilitate a more inclusive and equitable governance environment where the voices of the marginalized are not just heard but valued and acted upon,” Dr. Ahmed emphasized.
According to him, with the 2026 FCT Area Council elections on the horizon, “the time to act is now; these elections present a rare opportunity for indigenous communities to assert their democratic rights, and for stakeholders to commit to transparent and inclusive electoral processes.”
It is part of a broader effort to amplify the voices of FCT’s original inhabitants and ensure their inclusion in the political, economic, and cultural decision-making processes that affect their lives, he added
Barrister James Egah Ndeye, who spoke on ‘Legal Issues Facing FCT original inhabitants’, called for joint efforts to surmount what he described as the Hercules of disenfranchisement of both the indigenes and residents.
In his own submission while giving opening remarks, president of AOIYEO, Commandant Isaac David, went into history, recalling that the story of the original inhabitants of Abuja was one unfortunately marked by years of marginalization, exclusion, and systemic neglect.
“Despite being the indigenous custodians of the land on which Nigeria’s capital was built, FCT’s original inhabitants have faced statelessness, land dispossession, cultural erasure, and inadequate political representation.
“Their socio-economic conditions remain among the most disadvantaged in the country, and yet, their voices are often drowned out in key national and local governance conversations,” he lamented.
David stated that over the years, AOIYEO has, however, been in the forefront of seeking the addressing of these imbalances.
“Through our youth empowerment initiatives, education programs, and civic engagement drives, we have consistently championed the rights of the indigenous people of the FCT. However, there remains a dire need to deepen this work, especially as we approach a critical electoral milestone: the 2026 FCT Area Council Elections,” he noted.
He therefore called for unity between both the indigenous people and residents of FCT to be able to achieve the mutually desired objectives.
“I want to appeal to all; indigenous, residents, professionals, community leaders, youth leaders and traditional rulers across the six Area Councils to come together and unite for this purpose, because presenting a united front will definitely assist us to exercise our right to vote for and to be voted for,” Commandant David urged.
“We call on all stakeholders present here today to support this project in every way possible; through resource mobilization, collaboration, or policy support, because your contributions will be invaluable in achieving our collective vision and together. We can build a more inclusive, just, and sustainable Federal Capital Territory,” he stated.
Taking his turn, a retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Alhaji Aminu Saleh Pai, of all the stakeholders to address the issue of FCT’s security, suggested a multifaceted approach to protect the city and its environs.
On her part, AOIYEO women leader in Kwali Area Council, Mrs Afiniki Solomon, charged women not to quit the struggle for the men alone, saying that women possess the key to penetrate where men found it difficult to open the door.
The event was attended by representatives of different stakeholders, Chairman of Kwali Area Council, traditional rulers, civil society groups, partners in the development sector and members of the indigenous communities of the FCT.
