‘Don’t Push Us To The Wall’ – Abuja Communities React To FCTA Resettlement Plan

The Jabi indigenous community in Abuja on Thursday, raised concerns over the ongoing resettlement plan of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

They said that it would be counterproductive for them to be resettled without adequate compensation by government.

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The Sarkin Yaki of Jabi village, Tanko James told the National Human Rights Commission(NHRC) at its council chambers that the original occupiers of the land are living under the threats of being removed without compensation.

James argued that the community was not against those persons to which the lands have been allocated, “but we are asking them to exercise patience.”

He added that “If the government is taking this land away from us to implement public policy like hospitals, schools, infrastructure, we are ok.

“Once the government compensates and resettles us, they should come and take over their land, it’s as simple as that.

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“We are here because we are good citizens of this country. We don’t want to cause crisis but we should not be pushed to the wall otherwise the worse will happen.”

Furthermore, the HRH, Chief Simon Yabusa , Etsu of Jabi Village , represented by Sarkin Padi, Daniel Dogo, implored the NHRC to help address their concerns.


“We lodged our complaint here so we can get help,” he said.

Responding , Abduralman Yakubu, Director, Civil and Political Rights, NHRC, who represented the Commission’s Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, urged them to remain calm.

He also assured that the NHRC would investigate the matter while interfacing with revelant stakeholders so as to reach a last solution.

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‘I want to appeal to the youths of Jabi community to continue to maintain peace. We are going to take appropriate measures to find out what is happening, “ he said while promising that the commission would speak with the FCTA and Nigeria Police about the development.

Recall that the FCTA, through the FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, had in August, made it clear in a one-day Town Hall meeting on resettlement and compensation matters, that the administration was determined to resettle the indigenous communities so as to realize the dreams of the founding fathers of Abuja.

The position of the FCTA was that the communities such as Jabi-Yakubu and Jabi-Samuel have to be resettled “if the territory wants to get rid of slums and prevent the already perceptible slide into urban decay.”

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