By Adamu Abdullahi
A flag of power and order flies over a cluster of bamboo and makeshift tents on the frontline of an increasingly deadly struggle for land and the environment in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
It bears the banner of what indigenous activists are calling the “Liberation of Motherland – FCT Must Be Free”, a movement aimed at reclaiming ancestral land from marginalization and land grabbers. The movement has gained momentum following the recent clash between the FCT Minister and the military, which forcibly took land from FCT natives without compensation, abruptly ending what had been a tense, ongoing confrontation.
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s administration has continued a long-standing government policy of demolitions and land revocations in the territory, leading to the displacement of native inhabitants and sparking protests demanding proper compensation and legal recognition of their land rights. Since taking office, Wike has overseen demolitions of structures deemed illegal and revoked land titles for non-development, affecting both individual allottees and some native communities. He justifies these actions as necessary to restore the Abuja Masterplan and curb the activities of “land grabbers.”
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However, many FCT natives question the Minister’s priorities. According to local sources, Wike has demolished homes without considering the welfare of displaced residents. Reports indicate that the land cleared is being used to construct 40 houses for judges as part of a project to provide owner-occupier housing, aimed at improving judicial independence and welfare. Approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the project includes 10 duplexes each for the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court, and 20 for the FCT High Court, with completion expected within 15 months. Upon retirement, the houses will become the property of the judges.
This has raised concerns among FCT natives: what about their welfare? Many argue that while judges benefit from new housing, the displaced residents are left without roofs over their heads, forced to live in harsh conditions with no provisions for relocation, housing, or adequate compensation.
One resident, Adamu Abdullahi, expressed frustration:
“We understand the desire to develop Abuja. That is fine. But you cannot displace people and then build houses for judges, leaving those you displaced without support. People are struggling to feed themselves, and now they are forced to sleep in the cold, without beds or shelter. Neglecting the welfare of FCT natives will only increase insecurity.”
The struggle highlights the urgent need for government policies that balance urban development with the rights and welfare of indigenous communities in the FCT.
