JOURNALISTS LAUNCH AMBITIOUS 15-MONTH CAMPAIGN FOR ABUJA’S INDIGENOUS RIGHTS

A major journalism-led campaign to amplify the voices of Abuja’s original inhabitants has begun, aiming to reshape policy viewpoints and public discourse around indigenous inclusion in Nigeria’s capital.
Launched by the Network of Journalists on Indigenous Issues (NEJII), with support from the MacArthur Foundation via CHRICED, the 15-month initiative will include training, stakeholder engagement, research, and community storytelling. The goal is to elevate concerns of groups like the Gbwari, Gwandara, Dibo, Gade, Ebira, and others, whose lands and livelihoods have been threatened by urban expansion and political neglect.
“The time has come for Abuja’s indigenous people to reclaim their narrative and rights,” said NEJII coordinator Adewale Adeoye. The campaign will leverage policy dialogues, public forums, and media channels to press for recognition, land justice, and cultural preservation—reinforcing Nigeria’s commitments under international frameworks like ILO Convention 169.