FCT indigenes: We’re most marginalised, cheated in Nigeria

A group of indigenous people of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have said that they are the most cheated and marginalised among Nigerians.

They said this on Saturday in Abuja at the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) organised town hall meeting aimed at promoting inclusive governance through civic engagement.

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They said that some communities are not even accessible during raining seasons and that they have been unable to get access to their representatives in government for complain.

A religious leader Rev. Thomas Bako from the Yimi community in Gwagwalada Area Council, said they are the most cheated people in Nigeria.

“Before we communicate to our representative, it is difficult. You go to there offices, they will say you should come another day. We are peasant famers. How will you keep spending transport to visit someone’s office that don’t care about you?” Bako asked.

He said their roads are bad with several communities without social amenities, such that the few individuals that bought cars as a means of transmission are finding it difficult to drive.

He said, “The roads are bad. Accident taking place everyday. You hear contract is awarded, if you go to the site, nothing is done in that area. Some communities can only be access in the dry season.

“Even the kidnappers and bandits are not afraid of the police nor the army.

If you arrest them, the army and the police will free them. It is only the vigilante that are doing well but they have not been empowered.”

He also lament employment racketeering saying it is based on who you know and thus the FCT indigenes are at loss.

He said, “Go to the schools, no teachers. Anything you say, they will be hunting you. The Abuja at 30 community is even better because they have educated people. If you reach Tunga Hawa, they can’t come out in raining season until dry season. You won’t think this people are in Abuja.”

He added that some title chiefs in their villages are part of the communities problem as some of them will not want the community to write about issues that will help the community because they have collected money from the politicians.

Also speaking Dr. Ray Jamberlang from Buzumkure community in Kuje Area Council, said some of the local government chairmen are not accessable.

He said, “You can’t even know where they sleep. You can’t even access the local government chairmen. To see Senator Aduda is easy than to see a local government chairman in the FCT. They have ways of sneaking out of their houses and offices. So, you can’t even see them to lay complain.”

The townhall is a series of community engagements holding from September and October this year, with the PPDC helping citizens’ expectations on service delivery.

These research engagements were conducted in six communities of Karon- majigi, Yimi, Buzunkure, Ijakpada, Abaji, and Apiawoyi across the six area councils in Abuja.