Natives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), under the aegis of the Abuja Original Inhabitants Youth Empowerment Organisation (AOIYEO), have demanded full disclosure from the federal government on the rationale, scope and legal framework of any proposed ranching programme in Abuja.
The natives also sought clarification on how the initiative would affect the land rights, livelihoods, security and ancestral communities of the territory’s original inhabitants.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Sunday, AOIYEO executive director, Commandant Isaac David, said any decision to establish ranching facilities in the FCT must be subjected to broad consultations and should take into account the historical circumstances surrounding the creation of Abuja as Nigeria’s capital.
David recalled that the relocation of the Federal Capital from Lagos to Abuja was primarily aimed at creating a centrally located capital for governance, administration and national unity, rather than establishing ranching settlements.
“It is important to place this conversation in proper historical context. The relocation of the Federal Capital City, FCC, from Lagos to Abuja was not conceived for the purpose of establishing ranching settlements.
“The purpose was to build a neutral, centrally located Federal Capital City for governance, administration and the unity of Nigeria,” he said.
He, therefore, questioned how and when the federal government arrived at the decision to introduce a ranching programme in the FCT, urging the authorities to make the policy process transparent.
“The question now is: how, where and when did the federal government arrive at the decision to introduce a ranching programme in the FCT?” he asked.
David argued that if the government had developed a structured policy and support system for ranching activities, it should equally provide a comprehensive development framework for the original inhabitants and other residents of the FCT.
He said indigenous communities had over the years borne substantial social, economic and environmental consequences arising from relocation, displacement and rapid urban expansion following the establishment of the FCT.
According to him, the original inhabitants had customary claims over the lands incorporated into the FCT and had made significant sacrifices for the establishment and development of the nation’s capital.
“As the original inhabitants who still hold customary rights of ownership over the 8,000 square kilometres of land that constituted the FCC/FCT, upon which the Federal Capital was built, Abuja Original Inhabitants have borne the social, economic and environmental costs of relocation, displacement and urban expansion for decades,” he said.
The AOIYEO leader said any new federal government initiative involving land and agriculture in the FCT must be anchored on transparency, equity and peaceful coexistence.
On transparency, he demanded that the government disclose the origin of the ranching proposal and clarify whether consultations had taken place with traditional rulers, community leaders, political stakeholders and other relevant groups in the territory.
He also demanded details of measures to protect land rights and livelihoods, including compensation and resettlement arrangements for communities that could be affected by the proposed programme.
David further called for a clear framework to guarantee peaceful coexistence between existing communities and any new agricultural developments.
“What framework exists to ensure that new agricultural initiatives do not undermine the rights, culture and security of existing FCT communities?” he queried.
He stressed that AOIYEO was not opposed to agricultural development or investment, but insisted that such initiatives must be inclusive and protect the interests of communities whose ancestral lands were incorporated into the Federal Capital Territory.
“We are not opposed to development. But development must be inclusive. You cannot make plans for one group in the FCT without making clear plans for those whose fathers and grandfathers gave up their ancestral lands for Nigeria’s capital,” he said.
The natives consequently demanded a formal public statement from the federal government explaining the rationale and legal basis for any proposed ranching programme in the FCT.
They also called for immediate consultations involving traditional rulers, political leaders, community representatives, civil society organisations and other stakeholders before implementation of the initiative.
In addition, AOIYEO proposed the development of a comprehensive FCT Residents’ Development Plan to run alongside any Federal agricultural programme.
The natives said the proposed plan should address housing, compensation, employment, community development and the integration of original inhabitants into the broader development framework of the FCT.
David maintained that although the FCT belongs to all Nigerians, it is also home to communities whose ancestral history predates Abuja’s emergence as the nation’s capital.
“The FCT belongs to all Nigerians, but it is also peoples’ home. Policy decisions that affect land, livelihood and identity must be made with clarity, consultation and respect,” he said.
He urged the Presidency, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the FCT Administration to respond to the concerns raised by the group and engage relevant stakeholders before taking further steps on the proposed ranching programme.
