By Our Reporter
Federal Government and regional authorities have been called upon to take pro-active measures, to address growing impact of Climate Change on Abuja Indigenous peoples.
This decision was reached on Tuesday in Lagos at a workshop, organised for journalists by the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) in collaboration with the MacArthur Foundation, with the Theme: "Climate Change And The Future of Original Abuja Inhabitants (AOIS)."
Present at the workshop were over 30 journalists, including students from Mass Communications Departments and the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ).
Journalists present at the workshop, lamented the plight of the indigenous people and were worried that despite much efforts made to develop the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, nothing concrete was done improve plight of the indigenous people.
They noted that 50 years after siting Abuja as FCT, Climate Change and Livelihood of Abuja Original Inhabitants, (AOI) had gone for the worse.
While recalling that the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was created by the military in 1976 through Decree 6 that moved the Federal Capital from Lagos to Abuja, sadly noted that for 50 years, the indigenous peoples, including Koro, Nupe, Gwari, Ganagana, Ebira, Gade continue to express regret that the new capital had led to loss of ancestral land, decimation of forest and depreciation in quality of livelihood.
In his welcome address, Mr Adewale Adeoye of Network of Journalists on Indigenous Issues, (NEJII), said the Nigerian media is noted for setting agenda for national development, peace building and conflict prevention.
Adeoye said the issue of the neglect of Abuja Original Inhabitants remained a crucial agenda that should be resolved for Nigeria to be truly a democratic country.
This was just as he noted that in the traditional societies, the land and the forest represent motherhood without which life would be void, adding: "The most precious resources that mankind has transformed into various resources like the aircraft, telephone, oil and gas, solid and liquid minerals all came from the environment that we live."
"It is very important for Journalists to pay attention to the environment and how it determines the success or peril of indigenous peoples.
"Of all peoples in the world, indigenous peoples are often the greatest custodians of nature which they have preserved and held in trust long before industrialisation and commercialisation of nature," he added further.
Fabian Anawo of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, in his remark, listed some of the challenges facing the indigenous people to include Climate Change, indiscriminate rainfall and weather alteration, changes in patterns of day and night hours, flooding, unusual rain and sunshine, hot and humid which were considered in such areas as a tabo.
According to him, other challenges include the absence of trees that used to serve as wind breakers, massive destruction of homes, farms and houses, ocean surges among many others and changes in the ecosytem, leading to continued diminishing of animal species.
Speaking at the event, the Guest Speaker and former Editor of The Punch Newspapers, Mr Olalekan Adetayo, said during his sojourn in Abuja as State House Correspondent, he observed with pain the changing dynamics of climate and the negative impacts on Abuja Original inhabitants, urging that the story of Abuja Original Inhabitants should be understood in context.
Adetayo said Climate Change refers to long term shifts in temperature and weather patters driven by industrialization, deforestation, bush burning, mining activities, grazing pressures, urban expansion in the FCT.
According to him, the indigenous people face challenges of food security and livelihood since their lives revolved around subsistence farming, fishing, hunting, forest-based resources and indigenous energy systems (firewood, biomass), even as he listed climate odds linked to changing dynamics like planting cycles, crop yields, livestock survival and access to clean water.
"When agriculture fails, poverty increases and that when poverty increases, migration and displacement follow. When displacement occurs, identity and cultural continuity are threatened. Climate vulnerability is, therefore, not only environmental — it is economic and existential,’ he said.
The media practitioners promised to set challenges facing Abuja Original Inhabitants on the platform of national and regional discuss for effective institutional solutions.
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