Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
Amnesty International Nigeria has called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to immediately suspend all planned demolition activities around a critical public utility corridor in Maitama, Abuja, warning that proceeding before outstanding legal and technical issues are resolved could cause irreversible damage to public infrastructure, increase flooding risks and undermine due process. The organisation also urged the minister to review the allocation of the land to a private entity for real estate development, describing the proposed construction as a threat to public safety and the integrity of Abuja's Master Plan.
The corridor, designated as Plot 5334 in Cadastral Zone A06, reportedly accommodates underground stormwater and sewage drainage infrastructure constructed by Julius Berger Plc between 2012 and 2014 to address flooding risks in the area, according to a statement signed by Amnesty International Nigeria's Executive Director, Isa Sanusi. The organisation said the land had been allocated to Hammari Energy Limited for private residential development, raising serious concerns about environmental protection, drainage capacity and compliance with the capital's planning framework. "Its development for private construction raises serious concerns about public safety, environmental protection, drainage infrastructure and the integrity of Abuja's Master Plan," Sanusi said.
Despite these concerns, the Director of Development Control issued a demolition notice dated October 9, 2026, reportedly targeting protective boundary structures along the corridor. Amnesty said the timing of the notice was troubling because the matter was already the subject of ongoing litigation, including an application for an interlocutory injunction seeking to restrain development of the plot for residential purposes pending the determination of the substantive suit. The dispute is also the subject of an alternative dispute resolution process before the FCT ADR Committee, which Amnesty said it understood was nearing completion. The Federal Capital Development Authority had reportedly inspected the site and confirmed that it was reserved for an infrastructure corridor. "These circumstances make it particularly important that the relevant authorities resolve the outstanding legal, administrative and technical issues before taking steps that could cause irreversible harm," the organisation said.
At the heart of Amnesty's intervention is the potential impact of the proposed demolition and development on the wider drainage system. The organisation warned that any interference with the corridor could obstruct stormwater flows, increase flood risks and expose surrounding properties and communities to significant environmental hazards. It disclosed that it had written to Wike and the FCDA in May 2026, warning that construction on the corridor could threaten the structural stability of its national office building and nearby residential premises and expose them to severe flooding. The organisation identified its national office, residential buildings and nearby national security facilities as properties that could be affected by the proposed development. "The corridor serves a wider drainage function and obstructing it could disrupt drainage systems and increase flooding risks across the district," Amnesty said.
Amnesty called for an independent technical assessment of the corridor to determine its drainage capacity, the consequences of construction on the site and the potential risks to neighbouring properties and public infrastructure. "Decisions affecting critical utility corridors must be guided by verifiable technical evidence, applicable laws and the public interest," Sanusi said. The organisation also urged the FCT authorities to disclose the relevant land allocation records, planning approvals, technical assessments and the legal basis for permitting private development on land reportedly reserved for public infrastructure.
"The authorities must not allow demolition to proceed in circumstances where serious questions about the land's designation, the safety implications of the proposed development and the applicable legal processes remain unresolved," Sanusi said. He added that a temporary suspension would allow these issues to be addressed without risking irreversible damage to public infrastructure, neighbouring properties or the environment. Amnesty further urged the FCT authorities to respect due process, ensure that affected parties have access to justice and take steps to protect essential public infrastructure. "The protection of Abuja's critical infrastructure, public safety and the environment must take precedence over private development interests where these conflict," Sanusi said.
The call comes amid heightened political tension in the Federal Capital Territory ahead of the 2027 general elections, scheduled for January 16, with the governorship and state assembly elections following on February 6. Wike has been at the centre of a series of demolitions and enforcement actions in Abuja, including the demolition of structures built on waterways in Maitama and other flood-prone areas following inspections of flood-affected neighbourhoods. The minister has consistently argued that his actions are aimed at protecting lives and property and restoring the integrity of the capital's master plan. Critics, however, have accused him of using demolition as a tool of political control and of targeting properties belonging to those who cannot resist his authority.
For the residents of Maitama and the surrounding communities, the dispute over Plot 5334 is not an abstract planning controversy but a question of whether their neighbourhood will remain safe from the kind of flooding that has devastated parts of the FCT in recent years. For Amnesty International, the case is a test of whether the authorities will respect due process and the rule of law when private development interests clash with public infrastructure. For Wike, the decision on whether to proceed with the demolition or heed Amnesty's call for a suspension will shape how his tenure as FCT Minister is remembered in the run-up to the elections. As Sanusi put it, the authorities must act lawfully, transparently and in the public interest. The coming days will determine whether the demolition notice is enforced or whether the legal and technical reviews Amnesty has demanded are allowed to run their course before any irreversible action is taken.
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