FCT Natives Demand Inclusion In Master Plan, Governance

Abuja’s Original Inhabitants have renewed their demand for greater inclusion in the planning, governance and economic development of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging the government to integrate their communities into the Abuja Master Plan.

The demand was made in Abuja at a consultative meeting on the Abuja Original Inhabitants Community Development Policy and Integration Framework, which brought together community leaders, youth representatives, civil society organisations, experts and other stakeholders.

The meeting was supported by the MacArthur Foundation through the Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), in collaboration with the FCT Stakeholders Assembly and SIMBA Interlinks Ltd.

The consultation focused on the proposed policy and integration guidelines designed to address the concerns of Original Inhabitant communities and promote their participation in the social, economic and political development of the FCT.

Speaking at the meeting, executive director of the Abuja Original Inhabitants Youths Empowerment Organisation (AOIYEO), Commandant Isaac David, said the consultation was necessary to enable stakeholders to critically examine the policy document and build consensus around the interests of Original Inhabitants.

David said the document, which was prepared by experts, would serve as a foundation for developing a common position and engaging government at different levels.

He said the framework would also be used in preparing the Original Inhabitants’ charter of demands ahead of the 2027 elections.

According to him, political candidates seeking the support of residents would be presented with the demands of the communities, while the document could subsequently form the basis of legislative proposals by the next FCT senator and members of the House of Representatives.

“What we intend to do with this document is to prepare ahead of 2027. Before the election, there will be campaigns by Mr President, the Senate and House of Representatives, and this will be part of our charter of demands,” he said.

David added that the group was also seeking an opportunity to present the framework to the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, for consideration by the FCT Administration.

He stressed that unity among Original Inhabitant communities was critical to achieving their collective objectives.

Also speaking, President of the FCT Stakeholders Assembly, Dr Aliyu Daniel Baka, described the consultation as an important opportunity for stakeholders to influence the ongoing development and review of policies affecting Abuja’s communities.

Baka said the Original Inhabitants deserved to be properly integrated into the Abuja Master Plan, particularly as the government had adopted integration as a policy direction.

He recalled that 58 communities existed in the area before the creation of the FCT, noting that policies concerning their status and integration had changed over time.

He said the current review of the Abuja Master Plan should correct existing gaps and ensure that Original Inhabitant settlements were recognised in the planning and development of the territory.

“The federal government has accepted the policy of integration. We believe that in the planning process, our communities and settlements will be integrated into the Abuja Master Plan. That is basically integration,” Baka said.

He explained that integration should also cover economic opportunities, arguing that Original Inhabitants should have access to the economic activities and benefits generated by the development of Abuja.

Baka further called for political inclusion, describing Original Inhabitants as among the most marginalised groups and expressing hope that the Master Plan review would address the challenges confronting them.

He, however, clarified that the FCT Stakeholders Assembly was not exclusively for Original Inhabitants, stressing that residents who had lived in Abuja for decades, as well as those born in the territory, were also important stakeholders.

“FCT stakeholders are simply not only for Original Inhabitants. It is also for residents and others who are stakeholders,” he said.

Baka noted that millions of Nigerians had made Abuja their permanent home and should therefore be carried along in discussions concerning the future of the territory.

He said the Assembly had already developed a charter of demands but explained that the document remained open to new issues and recommendations emerging from the consultative process.

“This input we are putting together is going to constitute part of our charter of demands that we will send to government,” he said.

Baka also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as the infrastructure being provided across the FCT, urging residents to appreciate the administration’s efforts.

He said the infrastructure projects represented part of the government’s efforts towards integrating communities and improving the territory.

“Mr President has done well for us, and 2027 is an opportunity for us to come out en masse and say thank you,” he said.

The stakeholders emphasised the need for sustained dialogue between government and communities, saying policies affecting Original Inhabitants should not be developed without their participation.

They called for stronger representation, improved infrastructure, economic empowerment, protection of community interests and greater participation in decision-making processes.

The meeting ended with a renewed commitment by stakeholders to work together towards developing an inclusive framework that would give Abuja’s Original Inhabitants and other residents a stronger voice in the future development of the FCT.