In August 2021, when the Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civic Education (CHRICED) with support from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation launched the project of Promoting the Rights of Original Inhabitants in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), not a few doubters would have wondered if the project would be able to achieve its key milestones within the time span of two years. Given the challenges encountered in the course of similar advocacies for the protection and promotion of the rights of FCT indigenes, the doubts were not without some justifications. However, two years down the line, the relentless and tireless work done by the CHRICED-led cohort working on the project of Promoting the Political, Economic and Cultural Rights of FCT Original Inhabitants has surprised stakeholders. Not only has the project touched on a diverse bouquet of issues relating to FCT’s indigenous peoples, it has also covered enormous grounds and recorded what many have described as unprecedented impact.
The most visible of the impact recorded would be gleaned in the contribution the project made in terms of mobilizing FCT indigenes to raise and amplify their voices by insisting on their inclusion in key governance structures. One of the major outcomes of the advocacy is the nomination, successful screening and confirmation of an FCT indigene Zephaniah Jisalo as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This achievement is indeed remarkable because since the advent of Nigeria’s current democratic dispensation in 1999, this marks the first time an FCT indigene would be sitting with other Nigerians in the Federal Executive Council (FEC). While one organization cannot lay exclusive claim for being responsible for such a massive result, the FCT Original Inhabitant Project cohort played a frontline role in mobilizing public opinion and galvanizing the people at the grassroots to add their voices to the clamor for an end to the marginalization and exclusion of FCT indigenous peoples.
Notwithstanding the collective achievement of pushing for the nomination of an FCT indigene as Minister, the cohort has been very quick to admonish stakeholders that the struggle is far from being over. According to the group, the milestone of getting a ministerial slot for the FCT is just one out of a long list of issues signaling the political, economic and cultural marginalization of FCT indigenes. According to the leader of the cohort and Executive Director of CHRICED, Comrade Dr. Ibrahim M. ZIkirullahi, the achievement of a ministerial slot represents a bold first step towards addressing the decades-long injustices, marginalization, and exclusion of the Original Inhabitants whose ancestral homelands were taken over via Military Decree 6 of 1976 to make way for Nigeria’s capital.
His words: “What this means is that the long-suffering indigenous peoples in the FCT will now have a voice in the Federal Executive Council (FEC). As such, the Original Inhabitants in the FCT are well within their right to roll out the drums and celebrate this milestone, which is the outcome of a long and tortuous struggle that put the pressure on the political actors to take the necessary step of including Original Inhabitants in a critical governance structure.
“This coalition therefore commends all community and civil society actors, including men, women, youth and people living with disabilities who came together in one full voice to demand an end to the treatment of FCT Original Inhabitants as second class citizens in their ancestral homelands. The decades long efforts and activism have now ensured that FCT indigenes would stand shoulder to shoulder with compatriots from other parts of Nigeria in making decisions for the good and orderly governance of Nigeria.”
Consequently, the cohort has stressed that given the achievements recorded in the course of the advocacy for the promotion and protection of the rights of FCT Original Inhabitants so far, there could be the temptation for stakeholders to rest on their oars. The cohort therefore called on Original Inhabitants and other Nigerians campaigning for their rights to keep up the good fight. For the cohort, the ministerial slot is just one out of the several issues, which constitute the crux of the marginalization and exclusion of the indigenous peoples in the FCT.
According to the cohort: “There remains the unresolved land question, which borders on the fairness and adequacy of compensation for the lands belonging to FCT Original Inhabitants, which are being taken over by the government. There is also the pending question of elected state structure in the FCT to adequately accommodate the interests of the indigenes and residents.” The cohort has continued to insist that resolving the land question is very much connected to the core principle of free, prior and informed consent as enunciated in Article 10 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The article makes it explicit that indigenous peoples shall not be forcibly removed from their lands or territories. “No relocation shall take place without the free, prior and informed consent of the indigenous peoples concerned and after agreement on just and fair compensation and, where possible, with the option of return.”
Another unresolved question flagged by the CHRICED cohort is the issue of political representation of FCT Original Inhabitants in the context of the wider need of a democratic sub-national structure, which will give FCT indigenes the space to cater for their social and economic interests. The FCT Original Inhabitants project cohort continues to insist that “it remains an anomaly that while other Nigerians have the right to vote and elect Governors and members of the State Houses of Assembly, FCT Original Inhabitants are denied this same right.
“Added to this is the imbalance in the number of legislative seats provided for the indigenous peoples in the FCT. As it stands, FCT remains in the incongruous and unacceptable situation of having only one Senate seat and two House of Reps seats, while other States, even those with less population than the FCT have three Senate seats and scores of House of Representatives seats. Subsequently, the indigenous peoples in the FCT need sincere and far-reaching constitutional and legal reforms, which would address the structural imbalances at the heart of their marginalization and the exclusion from critical governance structures.”
Giving the outstanding issues concerning the rights and interests of FCT Original Inhabitants, the CHRICED project, which closes out in September has provided a strong basis for sustaining the initial gains. Critical to the sustainability of these achievements recorded so far is the passionate and energetic group of activists and advocates, including women, youth and people with disabilities are working assiduously on initiatives to promote and protect the rights of FCT indigenes. This outcome aligns with one of the cardinal objectives of the project, which is to build the programmatic and financial management capacities of FCT Original Inhabitants Organizations to enable them carry on impactful advocacies for the advancement of the rights and interests of FCT indigenes. Through the project, the program and financial management capacities of activists’ groups advocating for the rights of FCT indigenes have been built. The groups are; the Abuja Original Inhabitants Youth Empowerment Organization (AOIYEO), Abiodun Essiet Initiative for Girls (AEIG), Socio Economic Research and Development Centre (SERDEC), HipCity Innovation Centre, Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA), Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Development Awareness (CESDA), Original Inhabitants with Disability Multipurpose Cooperative Society, Mairo Women Foundation, Helpline Foundation for the Needy, and Association of Wives of FCT Traditional Rulers (AWTR).
Internationalizing Struggle for FCT Indigenous Rights
Another milestone recorded during the two-year project is the internationalization of the struggles of FCT Original Inhabitants. This has been achieved through yearly observance of the UN International Day of World’s Indigenous Peoples marked annually on August 9. Also, for the very first time, the Original Inhabitants in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, took the historic step of placing the issues of injustices and marginalization facing them for discussions and considerations at the 16th United Nations Human Rights Council’s Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP).
It was a historic moment because since the indigenes of the FCT began clamoring for the promotion and protection of their political, economic and cultural rights, they have never been able to explore the possibility of taking their case to multilateral institutions like the United Nations. By participating at the EMRIP, which supports the UN Human Rights Council with expertise and advice on the rights of indigenous peoples, the attention of state actors was attracted, In the coming years, there is the likelihood that Nigerian authorities and institutions will act faster to address the concerns of the indigenous people in the FCT.
Part of the EMRIP’s mandate is to assist member States in achieving the goals of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The EMRIP also conducts studies to advance the promotion and protection of Indigenous Peoples’ rights by clarifying the implications of key principles, such as self-determination and free, prior and informed consent, while examining good practices and challenges in a broad array of areas pertaining to indigenous peoples’ rights. The five days of intense deliberations on indigenous rights at the 16th EMRIP, which took place at the United Nations Headquarters located at the sprawling Palaise Du Nation, Geneva, Switzerland, was in every sense geared towards achieving those set objectives for the longsuffering indigenous peoples in the Nigerian capital.
For FCT Original Inhabitants who were able to attend, the EMRIP was undoubtedly the right place to ventilate their grievances, while seeking collaboration and synergies to address their issues. Faced with the stark realities of landlessness, statelessness and loss of traditional economic modes of survival, the indigenous peoples of Abuja, made up of 9 tribes and 17 chiefdoms, have now had to speak up and let the whole world know about their plight.
The cohort advocating for the rights of the Original Inhabitants in the FCT was led to the 16th EMRIP by the Executive Director of Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civic Education (CHRICED), Comrade Dr. Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi. The other members of the delegation are; Mr. Armsfree Ajanaku, Programs & Communications Manager (CHRICED), Sarkin Karshi, Ismaila Danladi Mohammed, Coordinator, Association of FCT Traditional Wives, Hajiya Hannatu Nga, Halima Mohammed, also of the Association of FCT Traditional Rulers Wives, Mr. Isaac David, Executive Director, Abuja Original Inhabitants Youth Empowerment Orgainzation (AOIYEO), Ms. Ahisatu Ozaki representing the youth; Mr. Solomon Garda of the Helpline Foundation for the Needy, Mrs. Maryamu Isah Barnabas of Mairo Women Foundation, Comrade Tijani Abdulkareem of Socio Economic Research and Development Centre (SERDEC) as well as Mrs. Grace Adayilo, a gender rights advocate, popularly known as Mama Africa.
This diverse group representing the original inhabitant men, women and youth in the FCT, with the support from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, were able to present the concerns of FCT Original Inhabitants at the EMRIP. In line with the project design, getting the FCT Original Inhabitants to interact with indigenous peoples from other parts of the world, and sharing their experiences and perspectives on how they have peacefully and effectively advocated for the promotion and protection of their rights would equip them (FCT Original Inhabitants) in advancing issues relating to their political, economic and cultural rights.
On July 18, 2023, which was the first day of the 16th Expert Mechanism, the CHRICED delegation, upon completion of registration formalities, participated in the opening session of the EMRIP. Participants thereafter listened to experts during the sessions titled; Study on the impact of militarization on the rights of Indigenous Peoples. Other sessions, which were attended by participants are; International Decade of Indigenous Languages, and Interactive Dialogue with the Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development.
On the second day of the Expert Mechanism, CHRICED Executive Director, Comrade Dr. Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi, presented the plight of FCT OIs to the Expert Mechanism. In the two-minute presentation, Dr. Zikirullahi stated that the FCT OI delegation was at the EMRIP with support of John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, to bring to the attention to the decades long violations of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples numbering over two million in the Nigerian capital Abuja.
He said if nothing is done to address the injustice done to them, their future would remain very bleak. The CHRICED helmsman narrated that over the years, successive Nigerian governments have refused to adequately compensate or resettle the Abuja Original Inhabitants, whose lands were forcibly taken by Military Decree 6 of 1976. Dr. Zikirullahi further noted that the Nigerian government has refused to respect and protect the rights of the Original Inhabitants of Abuja, despite solemn commitments to do so. He lamented that a visit to the Abuja Original Inhabitants’ communities, away from the façade of the well planned Abuja city centre would reveal that they lack functional health and educational facilities, just as they commute on deplorable roads, while lacking access to potable water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities.
To further buttress the challenges faced by FCT Original Inhabitants, the CHRICED helmsman pointed out that unlike other Nigerian citizens in various states who have the right to vote for a Governor and a State House of Assembly, FCT Original Inhabitants are denied such political rights. He briefed the gathering of experts, activists and advocates representing a diverse range of indigenous groups across the globe that FCT Original Inhabitants have done everything possible over time to bring attention to the obvious discrimination and injustices they face, but the Nigerian government has refused to listen.
He said even some landmark judgements of the Supreme Court in favor of FCT Original Inhabitants were never obeyed. The head of the OI project delegation called on the Expert Mechanism to echo the voices and pains of the indigenous people of the Nigerian capital, Abuja. He declared that members of the delegation from Nigeria are collectively demanding a stop to the violation of the rights of FCT Original Inhabitants especially their right of belonging, history and legacy. Comrade Dr. Zikirullahi similarly requested that the Nigerian authorities should be made to fulfill its constitutional and international human rights obligations to address the plight of the Abuja Original Inhabitants without delay.
After the presentation of the position of the cohort on the plight of FCT Original Inhabitants to the 16th Expert Mechanism, FCT Original Inhabitants activists and youth leaders took part in the international rally on the rights of indigenous people. The rally was a constellation of indigenous groups from various countries in the world. Indigenous groups from the United States, Brazil, Russia, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Kenya, Mauritius and many more nations of the world took part in the rally. The march started from Palaise Du Nation took the marchers through the Jardin Botanique all the way to the Lake in downtown Geneva.
FCT Original inhabitants who participated in the march used the opportunity to network, interact and share their experiences with leaders and indigenous groups from other parts of the world. After converging in front of the Geneva Lake, speeches, declarations and other forms of affirmation on the rights of indigenous groups were read in line with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In the course of the march, 100 copies of the publication titled; Our Capital, Their Land: The Story and Plight of Abuja’s Original Inhabitants were shared. Similarly, pamphlets providing short messages on the plight of FCT Original Inhabitants were handed to indigenous leaders from other parts of the world by FCT indigenous activists.
Subsequently, the Nigerian delegation made up of FCT indigenous peoples activists and advocates participated in a very important panel discussion, which bordered on the economic and livelihood rights. The conversation was the panel discussion on the right of indigenous peoples to engage freely in their traditional and other economic activities with a focus on fishing practices. Notwithstanding the fact that most of the FCT Original Inhabitants across the nine tribes, 17 chiefdoms and 858 communities in the FCT are predominantly farmers, the conversation on traditional economic activities, with a specific focus on fishing allowed the delegation to speak about the economic strangulation of FCT Original Inhabitants, especially in the form of the loss of their lands without adequate compensation.
Comrade Faith Nwadishi who was nominated by the cohort to speak on behalf of FCT Original Inhabitants during the panel focused attention on how the violation of their rights have affected the economic fortunes of FCT Original Inhabitants. In her two-minute presentation, Nwadishi who is also the Executive Director of Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) one of the sub-grantees of the cohort explained to the Expert Mechanism the challenges, and rights violations faced by FCT Original inhabitants, especially as it concerns freedom to engage in all their traditional and other economic activities. Ms. Nwadishi explained that the Nigerian capital, Abuja is home to diverse indigenous communities, whose livelihoods are intricately connected to their traditional and other economic activities.
According to her, these activities encompass practices such as farming, fishing, hunting, gathering, craftsmanship, and other cultural pursuits that have sustained their communities for generations. These activities, she noted, not only serve as a means of economic subsistence but also foster cultural heritage and preserve their way of life.
However, Ms. Nwadishi stressed the point that the indigenous people of Abuja have encountered various barriers that hinder their ability to engage freely in these activities. She noted that rapid urbanization, encroachment on ancestral lands, displacement, and limited access to resources, pose significant challenges to their sustainable livelihoods. She lamented that land dispossession, restricted access to natural resources, and lack of recognition and protection of FCT Original Inhabitants traditional knowledge knowledge further undermine their economic autonomy and cultural identity.
Given the disempowering nature of these violations, especially as they affect FCT Original Inhabitants, Ms. Nwadishi urged the international community, governments, and relevant stakeholders to take immediate action to address these pressing issues. She further made the point that it is crucial to ensure that the rights of the indigenous people of Abuja, as enshrined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), are respected, protected, and fulfilled.
This, she asserted, includes the rights to self-determination, participation in decision-making processes, control over land and resources, and the preservation of cultural heritage. On behalf of the delegation to the Expert Mechanism, she called for the implementation of inclusive policies that empower indigenous communities and prioritize their economic empowerment. Ms. Nwadishi advocated that the policies should involve meaningful consultation and collaboration with the indigenous people of Abuja to develop strategies that ensure the sustainability of their traditional and other economic activities.
The issue was also raised about the need to ensure efforts are made to provide FCT Original Inhabitants with legal recognition, equitable access to land and resources, and the necessary support to strengthen their capacity for self-governance, economic development, and cultural preservation. Concluding the second presentation to the 16th Expert Mechanism by the Nigerian delegation emphasized the importance of recognizing and protecting the rights of the indigenous people of Abuja, Nigeria, to engage freely in all their traditional and other economic activities. This issue was canvassed in the context of preservation of their cultural heritage, while fostering sustainable livelihoods and respect for indigenous rights.
The 16th EMRIP in Geneva was also a big opportunity for exposure for the indigenous advocates and activists from the FCT who were opportune to make the trip. The opportunity was utilized to reach out to other groups by exploring opportunities for collaboration and support for the struggles of FCT indigenous peoples. One of the groups the FCT Original Inhabitants will be collaborating with in the short term to medium term after the Expert Mechanism is the Peru-based organization, which uses block chain technology to raise funds for the causes of indigenous groups. Similarly, the Nigerian delegation was approached by the indigenous peoples of the Chagos Island, which is within the jurisdiction of Mauritius. The representatives of the indigenous peoples of Chagos sought the collaboration and support of the Nigerian delegation to further internationalize the issue of their marginalization within Mauritius. They engaged the Nigerian delegation on account of the fact that the issue of the FCT Original Inhabitants was similar to that of the Chagosians, whose homeland is has been forced to host an American and British military base with dire implications for land rights and the preservation of their cultural treasures.
Although no Nigerian State institution was present throughout the deliberations at the 16th Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, there are a number of key outcomes, which CHRICED will be using as basis for advocacy to State actors within Nigeria. Bodies like the National Human Rights Commission, the Ministries of Justice, Information and Culture will be engaged with the outcomes of the deliberation. According to the CHRICED Executive Director, the cohort will be pushing for a Nigeria Country Engagement using the outcomes of the 16th Expert Mechanism. As the struggles of the Original Inhabitants in the FCT continues, there is no doubt that this very first outing at the UN Human Rights Council 16th EMRIP has opened up vista of opportunities to address the decades-old injustices perpetrated by the Nigerian State against the peace-loving indigenous people of Abuja. As the two-year project led by CHRICED with the support of MacArthur closes out, there is optimism that the longsuffering FCT Original Inhabitants can build on the milestones, just as they will bring their resilience to bear by surmounting the remaining challenges. Finally, as the project of Promoting the Political, Economic and Cultural Rights of FCT Original Inhabitants coasts home to a close, the project beneficiaries have been expressing their gratitude to the ever-supportive team at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation both in Chicago and in Abuja. Profuse words of thanks have also been sent the way of President of the Foundation, John Palfrey, Managing Director, Stephanie Platz, Africa Director, Dr. Kole Shettima, Deputy Country Director, Dr. Amina Salihu, Hauwa Kazeem, Amina Usman, and Esther Ifesanmi.
