Original Inhabitants Abuja have called for the provision of adequate basic social amenities to alleviate their plights at the suburbs.
They made the call at a National Stakeholders Dialogue on Rights of the Original inhabitants in the Federal Capital Territory.
Speaking on the theme of the event which was ” Building Resilience, Fostering Recovery: FCT Original inhabitants and the Struggle for Justice “, the Executive Director, Resource Centre For Human Rights and Civic Education ( CHRICED) Dr Ibrahim Zikirullahi stressed that the provision of basic infrastructural development would ensure that the socio-economic and cultural rights of the Indigenes were protected.
“It is one of the Many Paradoxes of the Nigerian situation that the Original inhabitants, whose lands were parceled out by the virtue of Decree 6 of 1976 to make room for Nigeria’s capital, are being neglected and treated as second Class citizens, right in their ancestral homeland. A visit to the Original inhabitant’s communities would expose the Reality of communities without portable water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, and dilapidated health and school facilities “.
Also ,the Etsu of Kwali , Alhaji Shaban Audu Nzazo said the event was an opportunity to make their grievances known to policy makers in the country.
“We are appealing our rights, we should be treated right, it is high time our rights are given to us as we participate in governing process”
Executive Director Centre for Transparency Advocacy noted that Since the creation of the Federal Capital Territory FCT in 1976, the original inhabitants have complained of institutional marginalisation and discrimination, inconveniences resulting from mining activities including relegation of their cultural values and norms.
Hence, she stressed the need for the national Assembly to create Laws that would address the plight and challenges of the Original inhabitants
