Former Plateau governor Jang opposes indigenous certificates for Hausa residents

Former Plateau State Governor and Senator Jonah David Jang has publicly opposed a recent court decision that granted indigeneship to Hausa residents of Jos North Local Government Area on the basis of birth and long‑term residence.

An Appeal Court in Plateau State, in a judgment delivered last week by Justice C. Donglong, ruled that a Hausa person born and raised in Jos North LGA is an indigene of the area. The ruling was intended to resolve a long‑standing dispute in which Hausa residents were viewed by some locals as settlers.

The decision stemmed from a lawsuit filed by Fatima Baba Akawu and Baba Alhaji Akawu against the local council after the council denied an indigene certificate to the first claimant. The applicants sought the court’s determination on four matters, including whether Akawu—born in Jos North LGA to a father who is a bona fide indigene of that area—was entitled to an Indigene Certificate despite her Hausa ethnicity.

In a statement released on Saturday, Jang described the ruling as having “serious implications for the state’s identity, cultural heritage, and indigenous rights,” and warned that it could enable non‑indigenes to obtain indigene certificates and claim indigeneship.

Jang criticized the court for hastily deciding on an issue that could exacerbate tensions. He noted that debates over citizenship, residency, and indigeneship have long dominated political and social discourse in Plateau State and cautioned that altering the existing framework could undermine the rights of groups traditionally recognized as indigenous.

According to Jang, indigene certificates have historically been tied to communities and ethnic groups acknowledged as the original inhabitants of Plateau State and should not be issued solely on the basis of long‑term residence.

“Indigene certificates are historically linked to communities and ethnic groups recognized as the original inhabitants of Plateau State and should not be granted solely based on long-term residence,” he said.

He added that while every Nigerian has the constitutional right to live and conduct lawful activities anywhere in the country, this right does not automatically confer indigene status, which carries unique cultural and historical significance.

“Yes, every Nigerian has the constitutional right to live and conduct lawful activities anywhere in the country, but such rights should not automatically translate into indigene status,” Jang said. “Preserving the distinction between residents and indigenes is necessary to protect the interests, heritage, and political representation of indigenous communities.”

Jang urged policymakers and stakeholders to carefully evaluate any proposed changes to indigene certificate regulations to avoid unintended consequences.