The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has strongly condemned a controversial proposal by Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi, urging the demolition of indigenous settlements near the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, describing it as a dangerous threat to marginalized communities and a violation of human rights.
In a press statement issued on Thursday, CHRICED said the proposal which was presented by Senator Nwebonyi on May 14, 2025 would not only displace Abuja’s Original Inhabitants, but also deepen Nigeria’s ongoing housing crisis.
Senator Nwebonyi, while addressing the Senate, called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Hon. Nyesom Wike, to remove what he termed “eyesores”;; along the airport road to improve Nigeria’s image before international visitors.
But CHRICED described the senator’s justification as “a blatant disregard for the rights and welfare of citizens who have lived on this land for generations.
“These settlements are not mere encroachments; they represent ancestral lands and cultural heritage,”;; said Comrade Dr. Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi, Executive Director of CHRICED.
“The residents, already struggling with economic hardships, cannot afford the soaring rents in other parts of the FCT.”;;
CHRICED stressed that many of the affected communities are home to low-income earners and descendants of Abuja’s indigenous people who have historically faced systemic neglect and exclusion from development planning.
Although the Senate rejected Senator Nwebonyi’s proposal following opposition from lawmakers, CHRICED expressed concern about the continued threat to informal settlements, especially in light of comments by Senator Adamu Aliero, who noted that the lands in question had been allocated for development.
“This reveals the precarious situation of these communities and the likelihood of continued displacement,”;; the organization said.
CHRICED warned that forced evictions would violate both national and international laws, including Section 43 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees every citizen the right to acquire and own immovable property anywhere in the country.
Nigeria is also a signatory to the United Nations International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which protects the right to adequate housing.
The organization called on the Senate to go beyond rejecting the demolition bill and instead pass a binding resolution directing the FCT Administration to halt all planned demolitions and conduct a comprehensive human rights review of any future development plans.
“Urban development must be rooted in fairness, justice, and inclusivity not in the erasure of the poor,”;; CHRICED emphasized.
The group also urged the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that any future relocation efforts follow due process, including prior notification, fair compensation, and adequate alternative housing.
CHRICED appealed to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) to intervene, while calling on civil society organizations and the international community to help protect Abuja’s Original Inhabitants from displacement.
It reaffirmed commitment to defending the rights of vulnerable populations and called on stakeholders to promote policies that preserve the dignity of all Nigerians.
