The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has taken a firm stand against a controversial pitch by Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi, who recently pushed for the demolition of indigenous communities near the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. CHRICED labelled the proposal “a dangerous threat to marginalized communities and a violation of human rights.”
In a press statement released on the 22nd of May, 2025, CHRICED raised the alarm that Senator Nwebonyi’s 14th of May, 2025 proposal would fuel displacement and deepen Nigeria’s already dire housing crisis.
During a Senate session, the senator urged FCT Minister Hon. Nyesom Wike to clear what he described as “eyesores” along the airport corridor to give international visitors a better impression of the country.
But CHRICED pushed back, stating that the senator’s remarks reflect “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.
He added that the proposed demolition would target communities already facing tough economic conditions.
“The residents, already struggling with economic hardships, cannot afford the soaring rents in other parts of the FCT,” he said.
According to CHRICED, the affected populations are mostly low-income earners and descendants of Abuja’s original inhabitants, a group long excluded from urban development planning.
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Though the Senate rejected the motion after several lawmakers opposed it, CHRICED said the comments from Senator Adamu Aliero who pointed out that the lands had already been earmarked for development reflect an ongoing danger for informal settlements.
“This reveals the precarious situation of these communities and the likelihood of continued displacement,” CHRICED noted.
The group reminded authorities that any forced eviction would violate Section 43 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees the right to acquire and own property, as well as international agreements like the UN Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which protects the right to housing.
CHRICED urged the Senate to not only reject the proposal but also issue a binding resolution to the FCT Administration to pause all planned demolitions. The organization called for a full-scale human rights assessment before any further development.
“Urban development must be rooted in fairness, justice, and inclusivity not in the erasure of the poor,” CHRICED emphasized.
CHRICED also pressed the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure all future resettlements respect legal standards with proper notification, compensation, and suitable alternative housing.
The group appealed to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) for intervention and called on civil society and global allies to support efforts to protect Abuja’s original inhabitants from being pushed out.
CHRICED closed by reaffirming its commitment to defending vulnerable populations and pushing for policies that respect the dignity of all Nigerians.