The Middle Belt Forum urges constitutional reforms to address the marginalisation of the original inhabitants of FCT, demanding justice and statehood

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has reaffirmed its unwavering support for the indigenous people of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), calling for the restoration of their constitutional and human rights, which have been systematically denied.

Luka Binniyat, the MBF’s spokesperson, praised the non-violent approach adopted by the Original Inhabitants Development Association (OIDA), led by Pastor Danladi Jeji,

in advocating for their rights. The MBF acknowledged that the FCT represents one of the largest concessions ever made by the Middle Belt to the Nigerian state.

In 1976, the original inhabitants ceded 8,000 square kilometres of their ancestral land without resistance to serve as Nigeria’s capital and a symbol of unity.

However, the forum expressed grave concern over the continuous marginalisation of these indigenous communities. Rather than being recognised for their contribution to national unity, the original inhabitants have been treated as second-class citizens, suffering from policies that disregard their historical claims and rights.

The MBF recalled that the decision to establish the FCT was made under military rule and formalised by Decree 6 of 1976, during General Murtala Mohammed’s regime.

This decree was later incorporated into the 1999 Constitution, making it a long-standing issue that requires urgent constitutional review.

During the NWC meeting, Pastor Danladi Jeji detailed the plight of 858 indigenous communities, predominantly the Gbagyi, Koro, Gede, Gwandara, Bassa, and Ganagana ethnic groups, who have lived in the area for centuries.

He lamented that over one million original inhabitants have been displaced, losing their homes, ancestral lands, and cultural landmarks without fair compensation.

He noted that despite 55 villages being demolished to make way for the Federal Capital City (FCC), not a single plot of land has been allocated to an original inhabitant.

The MBF has called on all stakeholders to take immediate action, condemning the injustice that allows other Nigerians and even foreigners to acquire vast portions of FCT land while its original inhabitants live in slums and abandoned villages.

The group proposed key measures to rectify this injustice:

– **Proper resettlement and compensation** for displaced indigenous communities.
– **Recognition of the FCT as a state**, similar to Lagos during its tenure as the nation’s capital.
– **Establishment of a House of Assembly** to legislate on local affairs.
– **Inclusion of FCT Area Councils** among Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas to enable them to receive federal allocations.

The MBF stressed that these demands could be addressed through executive orders by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu or constitutional amendments.