According to Dailypost, the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has issued a strong rebuke against Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi’s suggestion to clear indigenous communities situated along the corridor to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, labeling it a grave infringement on the rights of long-standing residents and a blow to human dignity.
According to a statement released on Thursday, CHRICED criticized the proposal, presented to the Senate on May 14, 2025, warning that it would further marginalize native populations and worsen the housing shortage in the Federal Capital Territory.
Senator Nwebonyi had appealed to the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, to eliminate what he described as unsightly settlements near the airport to improve the nation’s global image. CHRICED dismissed this reasoning, stating that it fails to recognize the historical and cultural ties of the residents to their lands.
“These settlements are not mere encroachments; they represent ancestral lands and cultural heritage,” said Comrade Dr. Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi, Executive Director of CHRICED.
The organization emphasized that many of these neighborhoods are occupied by low-income families and descendants of Abuja’s original inhabitants who have long been left out of urban development plans.
Although the Senate ultimately turned down the proposal following pushback from some lawmakers, CHRICED remains alarmed by ongoing rhetoric suggesting that redevelopment may still proceed, citing Senator Adamu Aliero’s remarks about the area already being allocated for projects.
CHRICED warned that any move to remove residents would breach legal protections under both Nigerian law and international agreements, including constitutional guarantees on property ownership and commitments under global human rights conventions.
The organization urged lawmakers to not only oppose such measures but to formally direct the FCT Administration to halt any planned evictions until a proper rights-based assessment is conducted.
They further called on the federal government to ensure that, if relocation becomes unavoidable, it adheres to lawful procedures that include notification, fair compensation, and access to suitable alternative housing.
Finally, CHRICED appealed to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and global civil society to intervene and support the protection of native communities in Abuja, pledging to continue advocating for inclusive urban planning that respects the lives and legacies of vulnerable citizens.
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