As the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) marks the 50th anniversary of its creation, a coalition of indigenous groups has issued a call to the Federal Government and the FCT Administration to redress decades of injustice, human rights violations, and systemic marginalization faced by the original inhabitants of Abuja.

The call was made during a press briefing on Friday by Elder Danjuma Tanko Dara, Coordinator of the FCT Senior Citizens Forum, who spoke on behalf of Abuja's indigenous communities.

The event coincided with reflections on the historical milestone of February 3, 1976, when then-Head of State, General Murtala Mohammed, announced the relocation of Nigeria's capital from Lagos to Abuja.

The move was originally intended to foster national unity, progress, and accessibility.

While Abuja has grown into a vibrant symbol of Nigeria's political life over the last five decades, Elder Dara emphasized that this milestone is shadowed by a "complex legacy" for the land's original inhabitants.

"Fifty years ago, a new national capital was born on our land. Today, it is a bustling center of administration, but that growth brought significant hardship for us," Dara stated.

"Our people have faced relentless marginalization, displacement from 8,000 square kilometers of ancestral land, and forced evictions with near-zero political representation. These injustices have left deep scars."