Abuja Natives Urge Tinubu, Wike To Implement Policy That Empowers Communities

Natives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have called on President Bola Tinubu and Nyesom Wike, Minister of the FCT to implement inclusive policies that empower indigenous communities and prioritise the economic empowerment of natives in the territory.  

The coordinator of Mandate FCT, Elder Danjuma Tanko Dara, who made this call in a press briefing on behalf of the natives said that the inclusive policies should involve meaningful consultation and collaboration with the indigenous people of Abuja to develop strategies that ensure the sustainability of their traditional and other economic activities. 

He said that efforts should be ready to be made provided with legal recognition, equitable access to land, resources, and the necessary support to strengthen our capacities for self-determination. 

Dara further explained that Abuja is formed of diverse indigenous communities whose livelihoods are intricately connected to tradition and other economic activities. 

According to him, these activities encompass practices such as farming, fishing, hunting, craftsmanship, and other cultural pursuits that have sustained their communities for generations. 

"These activities not only serve as a means of economic sustenance but also foster cultural heritage and preserve our way of life. However, the indigenous people of Abuja have encountered various barriers that hinder their ability to engage freely in these activities. 

"Rapid urbanization, encroachment on ancestral lands, displacement, or limited access to resources pose significant challenges to our sustainable livelihoods. 

"Land dispossession, dispossession, restricted access to natural resources, and lack of recognition and protection of our traditional knowledge further undermined economic autonomy and cultural identity," he said. 

Dara also called on the international communities, governments, and relevant stakeholders to take immediate action to address these pressing issues and touch on the unique challenges faced by their people. 

"It is crucial to ensure that the rights of indigenous people of Abuja as enshrined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People are respected, protected, and fulfilled. 

This includes the right to self-determination, participation in decision-making processes, control over land and resources, and the preservation of cultural heritage," he said. 

The natives also congratulated President Tinubu for his victory at the tribunal, urging him to set a record in gold as a genuine democrat by issuing a presidential order to conduct a Governorship election as with other states or add states and local governments to balance equity for geopolitical zones in Abuja.