19/06/2026
BECO'S POSITION ON THE AKAWU JUDGMENT: A CALL FOR NATIONAL CONSISTENCY IN THE INDIGENEITY DEBATE
THE recent judgment delivered by Honourable Justice C. Donglong in Fatima Baba Akawu & Anor v. Jos North Local Government Council has generated significant national debate regarding indigeneity, citizenship, and constitutional rights in Nigeria.
BECO acknowledges the judgment as a valid legal decision based on the materials presented before the court, including constitutional provisions and existing judicial authorities. Our concern, however, is not with the court's legal reasoning but with the broader political and social implications of the principles now being celebrated by certain commentators. At the heart of this debate lies a simple question:
If the principles affirmed in the Akawu judgment are correct for Jos North, should they not apply equally throughout Nigeria?
The judgment held that a person born in Jos North to a father previously recognised as an indigene is 1. entitled to indigene status irrespective of ethnic origin. Many advocates have welcomed this outcome as a 2. triumph of constitutionalism and non-discrimination. BECO believes that genuine constitutionalism 3. requires consistency.
If indigeneity is to be determined primarily by birth and parental connection to a locality, then the same principle must apply not only in Plateau State but also in Kano, Kaduna, Lagos, and every other state of the federation. Nigerians born and and raised in communities outside their ancestral ethnic homelands should enjoy
equal treatment wherever they reside.
Unfortunately, what we observe across the country is often a selective application of constitutional principles. In many states, residents from minority or non-dominant ethnic groups continue to face barriers in obtaining indigene certificates, accessing public opportunities, and participating fully in local political life.
This inco inconsistency raises legitimate concerns, For Plateau's indigenous com communities, particularly the Berom, Afizere, and Anaguta peoples, the indigeneity debate cannot be separated from historical experiences of displacement, demographic pressure, political marginalisation, and recurring violent conflict. These communities view the merely as a legal question but also as one affecting cultural survival, political representation, and control
over ancestral lands. BECO therefore urges Nigerians to recognise that indigeneity disputes occur within complex social and historical contexts. Legal doctrines that appear neutral may have far-reaching consequences for minority communities already struggling to preserve their identity and political voice.
We also note that the debate should not be reduced to Plateau State alone. If constitutional protections against discrimination are to be defended, they must be defended universally. Every Nigerian deserves equal treatment regardless of whether they reside in Jos, Kano, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Makurdi, or any other part of the federation.
Our position remains straightforward:
1. Constitutional principles should be applied consistently across Nigeria.
2. No ethnic group should enjoy rights in one state that it refuses to recognise for others elsewhere.
2. The concerns of minority communities regarding demographic, political, and cultural survival must be taken seriously.
4. National integration must be based on reciprocity, fairness, and equal treatment under the law.
The Akawu judgment has undoubtedly altered the legal conversation surrounding indigeneity in Plateau State. However, the broader national question emains unresolved:
Will Nigeria adopt a single, uniform standard of indigeneity and belonging for all citizens, or will constitutional principles continue to be applied selectively depending on geography and ethnicity? Until that question is answered consistently across the federation, the debate will remain about more than law. It will remain about justice, fairness, and the future of Nigeria's diverse communities.
Issued by: Berom Educational and Cultural Organisation (BECO) 13 June 2026.
