Date of Conferral

4-10-2026

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Mark Gordon

Abstract

Rapid urbanization of Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has increasingly marginalized indigenous communities, creating a significant disconnect between top-down environmental governance and how it affects residents. Previous research has found that this land swap displaces indigenous stewards and erodes their traditional ecological knowledge, endangering local livelihoods, food security, and sustainable management of natural resources. The purpose of this narrative qualitative study was to explore how long-term residents perceive and experience their influence in environmental policy decisions through the lens of the social-ecological systems framework and the theory of resilience. This study examined the systematic exclusion of long-term residents of the Takushara settlement from environmental policy decisions, including the Land Swap Initiative, which threatened the community’s social-ecological resilience and cultural heritage. Residents' perceptions of their role in policymaking and the obstacles to their participation with the FCT Authority were examined using an adaptive cycle model to analyze community responses to external development shocks. Semi-structured interviews with residents captured a broad cross-section of the community. Inductive thematic analysis revealed that all participants reported feelings of socioeconomic exclusion and a strong place attachment. The potential for positive social change lies in empowering marginalized Indigenous voices, preserving irreplaceable cultural ecosystems, and fostering more equitable, sustainable urban development policies in Abuja and across Sub-Saharan Africa.

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