Abuja Natives Cry Foul Over Alleged Land Grab

The Indigenous People of Nyanya in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have raised the alarm over what they described as an attempt to dispossess them of their ancestral land. They accused key officials in the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) of undermining the inclusive policies of the minister of the FCT.

In an appeal yesterday, the community leaders expressed deep appreciation for the minister’s efforts to integrate indigenes into the current administration since his appointment.

Chairman of the association, Chief Enoch Jiyaba, in a press statement, said for the first time in years, there has been a deliberate inclusion of Abuja natives in political appointments and governance decisions.

The community also alleged that some directors are working contrary to the minister’s vision by orchestrating the forceful takeover of their land.

The land in question, located in Nyanya Phase 1 Extension Layout and Nyanya Integration Layout (2021) behind the Kugbo Bus Terminal, was reportedly allocated to the community in 2001 and reaffirmed in 2021 by previous administrations.

The community said this is not the first time they have been displaced in the name of development.

From Abacha Barracks to NAF Valley, and most recently the Kugbo Bus Terminal and International Market, their farmlands have steadily disappeared. The remaining land, which they hoped to use for housing, now faces fresh threats.

While affirming their commitment to peace, the people of Nyanya warned that they would not watch their rights trampled. They called on well-meaning Nigerians, civil society groups, and the federal government to intervene.

“If the government wants to site a project on our land for the public good, we can understand,” a community leader emphasised. “But we will not allow them to hand it over to private individuals for their own profit.”

They further demanded that any developer seeking land be directed to Orozo or Karshi, rather than dispossessing them of their rightful heritage.