Journalists Want National Assembly To Enact Abuja Original Inhabitants Protection Law
Journalists from over 30 media houses have called on the National Assembly to enact a Bill that protects the rights of Abuja Original Inhabitants who represent the first ancestral nations that lived in what is now the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) thousands of years before it became Nigerian chief city.
The media practitioners at the end of a one day summit on Environmental Justice and the Rights of Abuja Indigenous people said the bill will establish institutional framework that addresses historical injustice against Abuja Original Inhabitants since 1976 when their land was taken over through Decree 6 of February 4, 1976 that legalized the transfer of the Federal Capital from Lagos to Abuja.
The media practitioners said the proposed Bill for the protection of the AOIs represents a paradigm shift from perks to institutional provisions that addresses fundamental problems.
‘Indigenous issues are global. While many countries are providing legal frameworks and listening to the grievances of indigenous peoples, Nigeria has failed to do the right thing. The over 2million AOIs are crying silently for justice. Nigeria needs to listen to them before it is too late’ the journalists said in the communique signed by Adewale Adeoye, Kasali Akinwale, Usman Kadir and Mrs Mariam Usman. The participants called on Nigeria to domesticate the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples adopted by the UN in 2007and the ILO Convention adding that the two international instruments should be applied to AOIs.
NEJII said while Abuja remains one of the most beautiful cities in Africa, the original owners of the land live in agony, pain and misery without access to the essentials of life.
The Guest Speakers at the event were the Editor of Vanguard on Sunday, Mr Wale Akinola, News Editor of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, (FRCN), Mr Fabian Anayo and former News Editor of The Punch, Mr Felix Oboagwina.
The participants asked Nigeria to learn from Brazil and Chile that have come to the reality that the challenges of indigenous people needed to be addressed as a way to strengthen democracy and the rule of law.
‘The Abuja Original Inhabitants, (AOI) have lost land, resources and their spirituality to the new, beautiful capital of Abuja. What they have lost cannot be quantified in material terms. Appointing AOIs into positions does not address deep seated injustice of 50 years. There is the need for institutionalized legal provisions that cement and concretize their demands,’ the journalists said
The summit was organized by the Network of Journalists on Indigenous Issues, NEJII with the support of the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education, (CHRICED) and MacArthur Foundation.
The participants said the bill should address pollical and economic exclusion, education and access to primary health which the majority of AOIs are denied even though they own land, the most important means of production on which Nigerian wealth and national assets are built.
The one day media training also saw Journalists being engaged and intellectually equipped on how to report environmental issues, in which indigenous communities whose land, culture and livelihoods are under threat are being incorporated.
Akinola said it was germane that the media continue to shed light on indigenous issues to enable the government to give them attention, address their issues and concerns.
He stressed that reporting environmental issues goes beyond oil spills and gas flaring, but deforestation, land rights and displacement of indigenous people are critical environment issues that urged to be prioritized.
He said in effectively reporting environmental issues about indigenous people, there is need for accuracy, fact, cohesion, and truthfulness.
“There is a need to engage directly with indigenous communities. Journalists should prioritize first-hand accounts by speaking directly with community members. This helps to avoid reliance on second-hand information and ensures that indigenous voices are central to the narratives.
“Secondly, because we are dealing with Indigenous communities, it is essential that you understand the cultural context. I say this because a deep understanding of cultural norms, traditions and belief system will ensure that there is no misinterpretation or lack of context that can lead to bias or incomplete reporting”, Akinola added.
He stated that data driven journalism is the new goldmine, adding that use of data and multiple sources is key in reporting indigenous issues.
“Journalists that combine interviews with data, satellite imagery, government records and experts analysis have credible stories, naturally, it stands them out”.
He charged Journalists to always understand who benefits from environmental exploitation and do thorough investigations in addressing the anomalies.
“Journalists should investigate financial interests, corporate activities and policy decisions behind environmental issues. Meanwhile, it is important that journalists ensure ethical reporting. Respect for indigenous communities is paramount. Journalists must obtain informed consent, avoid exploitation and ensure that reporting does not put sources at risk”.
Also lending his voice on the need for a Bill to protect the rights of AOIs, Akinola said that what political leaders saw as a strategic national decision has become the beginning of many years of trouble for others, stressing that the AOIs have lost their ancestral land, their forests have decimated and there has been a visible depreciation in the quality of livelihood.
He added that effective coverage of indigenous environmental issues requires more than just reporting facts; it demands storytelling that is inclusive, investigative and impactful that informs and inspires action towards an equal and sustainable world.
In the same vein, Felix Oboagwina stated that for the AOIs to be liberated and make their voices heard, they need a human face equivalent of late Ken Saro-Wiwa of Ogoniland, who would speak and lead the struggle.
He added that if the members of the National Assembly and other political office holders are not pushed and forced, the Bill for the protection of Indigenous People will not see the light of the day.
The participants, however, made recommendations and demands that included AOIs Bill of Rights, promulgation of a law that recognizes the rights of Abuja Original Inhabitants, (AOIs) in line with payment of compensation and opening up fresh frontiers of opportunities for AOIs, Abuja to be made a State while AOIs should designate a recognized face and voice for AOIs.
Others included building a strong, viable AOIs coalition to Aggregate the interests of AOIs while calling for a well-structured, legally registered, and adequately funded organization that serves as the central platform for all AOI groups. ‘This body will document grievances, harmonize demands, coordinate strategy, and engage stakeholders. Unity under one institutional umbrella increases bargaining power and prevents fragmentation that weakens advocacy.’
