Journalists Urge Abuja Indigenous Rights Law

Journalists from over 30 media organizations have urged the Nigeria — National Assembly (Nigeria) to enact a law protecting the rights of Abuja Original Inhabitants (AOIs). This call follows a summit on environmental justice and indigenous rights, highlighting decades of displacement and exclusion suffered by AOIs since the creation of the Nigeria — Federal Capital Territory (Nigeria) in 1976. The proposed legislation aims to address historical injustices, including political and economic exclusion, limited access to education and healthcare, and loss of ancestral lands. Participants also called on Nigeria to domesticate international frameworks like the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and International Labour Organization conventions, drawing lessons from countries like Brazil and Chile. The event, supported by the Network of Journalists on Indigenous Issues, Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education, and MacArthur Foundation, emphasized the need for sustained media attention and legislative action to ensure inclusive development and justice for the estimated two million AOIs.