The Nigerian government’s repeated failure to uphold its commitment to respect and protect the rights of the indigenous people of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is a cause for concern.
Development Diaries reports that the Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civic Education (CHRICED) recently urged the international community to intervene in the long-standing plight of these people, who face challenges related to land ownership, political representation, and cultural preservation.
When construction of the FCT commenced in 1976, thousands of people, belonging to about nine ethnic groups with different languages, were forced off their lands by the federal government or pressured to sell to private citizens and businesses.
It is important to mention that Nigeria has ratified, endorsed, and signed several international human rights treaties that deal with the protection of indigenous peoples and minorities.
These include the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Minorities (UNDM) and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).
Despite these legal frameworks and international obligations that mandate the protection of indigenous rights, the natives of FCT communities have faced systematic displacement and marginalisation.
These natives, who have inhabited the region for generations, have seen their ancestral lands appropriated for urban development projects without adequate consultation or compensation.
The government’s actions have often disregarded the cultural, economic, and social significance of these lands to the indigenous population, leading to a profound sense of loss and injustice among the affected communities.
In addition to land appropriation, the indigenous people of FCT suffer from a lack of political representation and participation in decision-making processes that directly impact their lives.
As a result, the indigenous communities are often sidelined in the governance of their lands. This exclusion has violated their rights to self-determination and created a cycle of disenfranchisement and neglect.
The government’s failure to address these issues has led to growing frustration and resentment among the indigenous population, who feel their voices are systematically ignored.
Development Diaries calls on President Bola Tinubu’s government to honour the existing commitments to protect and promote the rights of the FCT indigenous population and set up comprehensive and inclusive policies that address historical injustices.
Photo source: e.r.w.i.n