Abuja Original Inhabitants Youth Empowerment Organization (AOIYEO) has renewed its calls for full political autonomy and inclusion of original inhabitants of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in governance and development processes, insisting that justice and equity cannot be achieved until their rights are constitutionally recognized.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, Project Manager of AOIYEO, Ms. Annis Adegbe, emphasized that despite Abuja’s transformation into a symbol of national unity and progress, its indigenous communities continue to suffer from “systematic exclusion” and “historical marginalization” since the establishment of Nigeria’s capital city.
She said: “While Abuja shines as the face of national development, the people whose ancestral lands made it possible remain on the margins —deprived of quality education, healthcare, water, and basic infrastructure.
“True justice and inclusivity in the FCT can only come when its original inhabitants are given their rightful place in governance.”
The press briefing, themed ‘Strengthening Community Voices in Key Governance Processes’, was part of an ongoing AOIYEO project supported by the MacArthur Foundation through a group, CHRICED.
It aims at amplifying indigenous participation in decision-making and policy formulation within FCT.
Original Inhabitants’ Major Demands
AOIYEO outlined four major demands to redress what it described as long-standing injustices and foster equitable governance in Abuja.
These include:
*Full political and administrative structures: Granting the FCT political autonomy to enable meaningful local governance and participation.
*Office of the Executive Governor of the FCT: establishing this office to ensure accountable and representative leadership.
*FCT House of Assembly and Governorship Elections: enabling residents and indigenes to elect their own governor and legislators in line with democratic standards across Nigeria’s 36 states and;
*Creation of the Abuja Original Inhabitants Development Commission (AOIDC): A statutory body to address development gaps, promote inclusion, and ensure fair distribution of resources derived from indigenous lands.
Ms. Adegbe urged the Federal Government, National Assembly, and relevant stakeholders to act on these demands, stressing that sustained neglect of the indigenous population undermines the spirit of fairness and national unity that Abuja represents.
“Abuja can only truly stand as the symbol of Nigeria’s unity when its foundation — the rights and dignity of its original inhabitants — is recognized and protected,” she noted.
The AOIYEO initiative continues to push for legislative reforms, civic engagement, and policy inclusion to ensure that the voices of FCT’s indigenous people are not only heard but actively shape the city’s governance and development future.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Ms. Adegbe (left) and other leaders during the media briefing.
