HipCity Innovation Centre unequivocally condemns the recent proposal by Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi to demolish unplanned settlements/communities along the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport corridor in Abuja. These communities, a representative sample of the true vision of Abuja as a “Centre of Unity” being that all Nigerians from diverse ethnic groups including the Original inhabitants of Abuja live there showcasing both cultural history of the city and the tolerance of Nigerians to live together.

The proposal by the Senator to demolish these communities on the alter of aesthetics or misguided urban development only deepens marginalization and undermines inclusive city-building.

Senator Nwaebonyi’s call, made during a Senate session on May 14, 2025, urging the FCT Minister, Hon. Nyesom Wike, to remove what he termed “eyesores,” reveals a disturbing yet Nigeria’s elite approach to urban development—one that places aesthetics over our realities as a people, erodes human dignity, cultural identity and economic inclusion, failing to recognize the rights of vulnerable residents and the opportunity to harness urban regeneration as a tool for reintegration, not exclusion and extermination.

These communities are not mere structures in the wrong place. They are home to families who, despite limited means, have contributed meaningfully to the city’s social and economic ecosystem. Many are descendants of Abuja’s Original Inhabitants, who have suffered multiple waves of displacement since the creation of the Federal Capital Territory. Rather than demolish, the government must pursue pathways of reintegrating these communities into the urban vision through participatory planning, infrastructure upgrading, and access to basic services.

HipCity Innovation Centre acknowledges the Senate’s decision to reject the proposal—thanks to the principled objections of lawmakers who recognize the need for equity and justice in urban policy. However, we remain deeply concerned by Senator Adamu Aliero’s remarks suggesting the lands have been officially allocated for development. Such comments underscore the ongoing threat of forced evictions and the systemic disregard for community tenure and social equity.

Forced evictions do not reflect a modern, just, or inclusive city. They violate the right to adequate housing, guaranteed under Section 43 of the Nigerian Constitution and reinforced by international human rights frameworks to which Nigeria is a signatory, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

HipCity Innovation Centre therefore calls on the Nigerian Senate to go beyond rejecting proposals and take a stand by the people by jettisoning any bill(s) that triggers or insinuate demolitions of informal and indigenous settlements in the FCT. The Senate through the committee on FCT must demonstrate character and insist that urban development in the FCT is participatory, inclusive, and pro-poor.

We call on the FCT Minister and his cabinet not to rely solely on their wisdom, but to widen its governance net to incorporate urban planners, civil society organizations, and local leaders to design an inclusive city where every resident—regardless of income or heritage—is protected and has a place. Rather than displace the urban poor, the FCT must adopt approaches that prioritize in-situ upgrading, reintegration, and infrastructure investments in informal settlements.

Where eviction becomes unavoidable for the purpose of “public good” then the resettlement process must be rooted in social justice principles: prior notice, full community consultation, fair compensation, and access to adequate alternative housing.

At HipCity Innovation Centre we remain committed to building cities that work for everyone, especially the urban poor. True development is not about displacing people to beautify highways; building luxury homes that is occupied by lizards and wall geckos, it is about regenerating communities, safeguarding rights, and reintegrating the most vulnerable into the heart of the city.

Signed:
HipCity Innovation Centre

HipCity Innovation Centre has just concluded the very first of its kind; Media for Cities Development Training which marked a significant milestone in building the capacity of young people to creatively engage with urban issues through media and storytelling. Over the course of the one-week intensive training program, twelve (12) young persons—7 females and 5 males—were immersed in an exciting blend of theory and hands-on learning aimed at sharpening their media skills while deepening their understanding of urban development.

Participants were introduced to key concepts in urban planning, urban development, and policies, with special attention to how this shape the everyday realities of city life. One of the highlights of the training was the “Meet with the Expert” session, where the trainees had the rare opportunity to engage directly with experienced town planners. These seasoned professionals offered deep insights into Abuja’s city plan, helping the participants understand how planning decisions affect housing, transport, environment, and access to basic services in the city.

Alongside the urban development modules, the participants received practical training in media production—including sessions on photography, lighting, sound setup, videography, photo and video editing. These sessions were tailored to empower them to tell compelling stories about the cities they live in, especially from the perspectives of underrepresented communities.

To translate their learning into action, participants engaged in group work and produced a short film on domestic violence, showcasing not only their new media skills but also their commitment to addressing pressing social issues (https://youtube.com/shorts/8PO4KJky0D4?feature=share)

The program culminated in a close-out and exhibition event that tested the trainees’ agility and creativity. Each participant was tasked with going into an informal settlement to capture and edit a video story in less than six hours. The resulting short films highlighted stories of resilience, struggle, and hope—demonstrating the power of media as a tool for advocacy and change.

To wrap up the event, all trainees were presented with certificates in recognition of their hard work and successful completion of the training.

The Media for Cities Development Training is not just about developing technical media skills—it is about building a new generation of urban storytellers and advocates who understand their cities and are equipped to spotlight the issues that matter. We celebrate our twelve graduates and look forward to seeing how they will use their voices and lenses to shape more inclusive, equitable urban spaces.

This training was made possible with the support of the Heinrich Boell Foundation Nigeria, under its inclusive cities program.

This is your opportunity to develop modern day digital media skills to push advocacy while also making a living out of it.

We are looking for 10 committed, passionate young persons to participate in a 5-intensive hands-on training that introduces them to the concepts of urban planning, design, creative urban communication for development techniques for advocacy and policy influencing purposes.

On completion of the program, trainees will volunteer for 6 months with HipCity Innovation Centre chronicling the daily challenges faced by Abuja city residents in the areas of housing, transportation etc.

ELIGIBILITY

• Candidates must be young persons between the ages of 18 to 35 years with interest or skills in Digital Photography, Videography (Documentary and Storytelling), or Social Media management
• Candidates must have lived in Abuja for at least 2 years and above
• Candidates must be present throughout the week-long training in Abuja in the month of April 2025
• Candidates must be available to volunteer 6 months flexible time with HipCity Innovation Centre to advocate for issues of urban planning and development in Abuja.
• Young women and PWDs are strongly encouraged to apply
• Candidates must have a laptop or can access one for practicals during the training.

Abuja: Is a city for all, but is this statement true? don’t miss this chance to contribute to a viable, inclusive Abuja. Register now

DEADLINE: April 7, 2025

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The urban landscape globally is changing with clear evidence that 70% of the world population will live in cities by the year 2050. Urbanization by itself presents both opportunities and challenges for governments across the globe.

Nigeria’s population is tilting towards the urban areas for several reasons such as better living standards, basic services, job opportunities etc. With rapid urbanization; Nigerian cities must double up on its service delivery in critical areas such as housing, efficient transportation systems, decent jobs etc. Unfortunately, the spate of development does not keep pace with the urban population with many Nigerians unable to afford the current houses stock available. This situation has contributed to urban sprawl with many Nigerians especially youths finding solace in Slum Communities.

HipCity Innovation Centre, a sustainable and inclusive cities advocacy organization on February 5th paid an advocacy visit to the Honorable Minister of Housing and Urban Development Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa to advocate for affordable housing options for youth and other vulnerable groups in Nigerian cities who are often not considered in housing and urban planning decision making.

In response to the demand of the team from HipCity Innovation Centre; the Honorable Minister applauded the initiative of the organization and the work they do in promoting sustainable and inclusive cities in Nigeria. He went further to speak on his role as the Chair of the Executive Board of the UN-Habitat and acknowledging the existence of a similar structure at the global level; hence it is laudable that Nigerian youths are aligning in the regard.

Underscoring the importance of partnerships and collaboration; the Honorable Minister endorsed the advocacy demands of HipCity Innovation Centre and mandated the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry to liaise with the organization to work out modalities for the implementation. On the issue of affordable housing, the Minister also graciously committed to providing land for the pilot of a youth housing scheme while tasking the organization to conduct wider consultation with youths and undertake due diligence to ensure they return to the Ministry with a practicable proposal for the implementation and assured of the ministry’s backing.

HipCity Innovation Centre’s Executive Director; Mr. Bassey Bassey thanked the Minister for his visionary leadership and also seized the opportunity to present to the Minister a recent publication of the organization “Abuja: A city for all; moving from vision to reality.

HipCity Innovation Centre will continue to engage with relevant stakeholders and ensure that the commitments of the Minister’s come to full implementation and young persons in Nigeria have a voice in housing and urban development issues in Nigeria.

To volunteer or learn more about the work we do at HipCity Innovation Centre; send us an email: info.hipcityhub@gmail.com, info@hipcityinnovationcentre.org or call us on +2348039906111 or follow us on all our social media platforms with the name “HipCityHub”

The documentary was produced as part of the preparation for the Abuja Sanitation Conference 2024 organized by HipCity Innovation Centre last month, where stakeholders and young persons discussed innovative solutions to improve public sanitation facilities in the Federal Capital Territory. By amplifying the voices of everyday users, this documentary emphasizes the urgent need for better public sanitation systems and reinforces the importance of achieving an Open Defecation Free Nigeria by 2030.

The Abuja Sanitation Conference addressed the critical challenges of sanitation, waste management, and environmental sustainability, while promoting innovative solutions to improve public health and create sustainable jobs through sanitation for youths by featuring two lead presentations, plenary sessions.

The event was participatory as the attendees engaged in a survey that tested their knowledge on sanitation and expressed their innermost thoughts about the Toilet on a canvas with inscription “What Does Toilet Mean to you?”

The Conference highlights the urgent need for collective action to combat open defecation and improve sanitation in Nigeria. It underscores the importance of collaboration, innovation, and youth involvement in driving sustainable change. The conference’s outcomes hold the potential to inspire similar initiatives across the country, offering a roadmap for achieving a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future for all Nigerians.

Also, it yielded significant outcomes that mark a critical step forward in addressing Nigeria’s sanitation challenges. This maiden event inspired a collective commitment to eradicating open defecation in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and fostering a sustainable approach to sanitation, public health, and environmental management. The outcomes of the conference reflect its multidimensional impact, encompassing policy development, stakeholder collaboration, and actionable strategies for achieving an open-defecation-free FCT.

Building on the momentum from the Abuja Sanitation Conference 2024, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) must now translate the insights, collaborations, and commitments from the event into actionable steps. These next steps are critical to ensuring that the goals of eradicating open defecation and improving sanitation in the FCT are realized. A strategic, multi-sectoral approach will be key to sustaining the progress initiated by the conference. They include: Public awareness campaigns will play a crucial role in changing behaviors around sanitation and hygiene; Youth engagement, a prominent theme of the conference, must be further developed through targeted initiatives; Securing funding for sanitation initiatives; Monitoring and evaluation systems must be established to track progress toward an open-defecation-free FCT.

With the successes recorded at the Abuja Sanitation Conference 2024, the journey towards the Abuja Sanitation Conference 2025 has begun. Safe to say “See you at the Abuja Sanitation Conference 2025”.

Ranking number one globally as the nation with the most population practicing open defecation is not a good image for Nigeria. While we actively work towards attaining the open defecation free status as a nation, this conference is packed with activities exploring some uncharted areas in the sanitation discussion.

You can be a part of this conference physically or virtually. Attendance is free but you need to register with the link https://bit.ly/AbujaSanitationConference