For over 200 years, the indigenous community of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja has existed and flourished. We are proud to be the original inhabitants of this land.
We have long engaged in peaceful resistance within our community, working collaboratively with the federal government on various issues affecting us.
We fully understand that when the government has national interests at stake, no individual can contest its authority. This has led to concerns regarding a proposed road corridor, which is the reason for our press conference today. We seek to draw the attention of the Honourable Minister of FCT to our demands and grievances.
Let us commend the Honourable Minister for his developmental initiatives. He has transformed the face of the FCT in a remarkably short time, bringing it to resemble other developed nations. This progress gives us hope for a brighter future for our country.
As peace-loving individuals, we acknowledge the Minister’s approval of two sites for the resettlement of indigenous residents whose homes were affected by road construction. Road N1, which is part of a larger ring road project, impacts several indigenous households.
We appreciate the Minister for introducing development into our community and are grateful for his leadership. Proper processes were followed, including assessments for those affected, and financial compensation was provided. In his generosity, the Minister recognised our status as indigenous people.
Representatives from the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) have visited the approved sites multiple times, and the community has consented to their use for resettlement. We understand that these sites have been subdivided into plots for our people following the Honourable Minister’s approval.
We would like to address Mr Chijoke, the Director of Lands. As peace-loving citizens, we will resist any attempts to alter the approved locations, as these decisions were made with the community’s best interests in mind.
We will not accept any changes imposed by individuals who wish to undermine our rights. The Honourable Minister has authorised these sites for our resettlement, and it is unacceptable for anyone to disrupt this process.
We demand the return of our approved land and urge immediate action against anyone attempting to interfere with our resettlement. If such actions occur, we will mobilise to resist them.
This press conference serves to highlight our concerns to the Honourable Minister, whom we believe understands and supports the needs of the indigenous people of the FCT. We stand by him in his commitment to developmental projects and expect that no one should jeopardise the advancements made.
In conclusion, we firmly assert that the approved resettlement sites should remain unchanged. This is our position, and we hope others will continue from here.