The indigenous youths of the Federal Capita Territory (FCT ) have called on government to, as matter necessity ensure that the voices of the marginalized people of Abuja are not just heard but valued and acted upon.
Acting under the auspices of Abuja Original Inhabitants Youths and Empowerment Organisation (AOIYEO ) ,the group have called for more inclusiveness and equitable governance environment where
This was the focus of the town hall meeting tagged “Strengthening FCT Indigenous Community Voices in Key Governance Processes” organised by AOIYEO in collaboration with FCT Stakeholders Assembly.
The programme was in partnership with the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) which was funded by the MacArthur Foundation kwali on Thursday July 10, 2025.
Dr. Aliyu Daniel Kwali, the president of FCT Stakeholders Assembly emphasized the importance of inclusiveness of indigenous voices in his presentation on how to “Strengthen the Voices of the FCT Indigenous Communities in Key Governance Processes”.
He urged the concerned stakeholders to ensure the achievement of this advocacy
In a speech delivered on behalf of AOIYEO by Dr. Abubakar Sadiq Ahmed, the Project manager of the organisation reiterated that the goal of this project was the promotion of the political, economic, and cultural rights of the original inhabitants of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
“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.”
Abubakar continued that with the 2026 FCT Area Council Elections on the horizon, “the time to act is now, this 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 the original inhabitants of Abuja and ensure their inclusion in the political, economic, and cultural decision-making processes that affect their lives, Abubakar added
Barr. James Egah Ndeye who spoke on “Legal Issues Facing FCT original inhabitants” called for joint efforts to surmount this hercules of disenfranchisement of both the indigenes and residents.
The president of the AOIYEO, Commandant Isaac David went memory lane that the story of the original inhabitants of Abuja was one that was 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.
Isaac stated that over the years, AOIYEO has been at the forefront of addressing 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”.
Isaac therefore called for unity between both the indigenous people and residents of FCT to be able to achieve this. “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 united for this purpose, because presenting a united front will definitely assist us to exercise our right to vote for and to be voted for.”
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 Territor, Isaac stated
Alhaji Aminu Saleh Pai, a retired AIG, suggested a multifaceted approach among all the stakeholders to address the issue of FCT security to protect the city and its environs.
While the AOIYEO women leader in Kwali Area council, Mrs Afiniki Solomon charged the women not to leave this struggle alone for the men, saying that women possess the key to penetrate where men found it difficult to open the door.
At the event were the representatives of different stakeholders, chairman of Kwali Area Council, traditional rulers, civil societies, partners in the development sector and members of the indigenous communities of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).