Story perspectives

Residents Demand Compensation for Abuja Ancestral Home Loss

4/4/2026

Summary

Story summary

Lami Ezekiel, an elder in Maitama, recalls the destruction of her ancestral home during Abuja's late-1980s construction.
Residents, including Ezekiel, are still awaiting promised compensation.
The Federal Capital Territory was created in 1976, but many indigenous groups feel marginalized.
Activists say resettlement is inadequate, with poor living conditions and unfulfilled amenities.
Community leaders cite unresolved legal cases and activists demand representation and land rights.

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Story summary

Lami Ezekiel, an elder in Maitama, recalls the destruction of her ancestral home during Abuja's late-1980s construction.
Residents, including Ezekiel, are still awaiting promised compensation.
The Federal Capital Territory was created in 1976, but many indigenous groups feel marginalized.
Activists say resettlement is inadequate, with poor living conditions and unfulfilled amenities.
Community leaders cite unresolved legal cases and activists demand representation and land rights.