Amnesty International Nigeria has called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to suspend planned demolitions along a public utility corridor in Maitama, Abuja, and review its allocation to Hammari Energy Limited for private real estate development.
The organisation said the proposed development of Plot 5334 in Cadastral Zone A06 could threaten critical drainage infrastructure, increase flooding risks and undermine Abuja’s master plan.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Amnesty International Nigeria urged the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and other relevant authorities to suspend demolition activities pending an urgent review of the land’s designation, the ongoing litigation and the technical implications of the proposed development.
The organisation said the corridor reportedly houses underground stormwater and sewage drainage infrastructure constructed by Julius Berger Plc between 2012 and 2014 to address flooding risks in the area.
It expressed concern that allowing private construction on the site could endanger public safety, damage the environment and compromise essential drainage infrastructure.
Amnesty International Nigeria said the concerns had been brought to the attention of the authorities through administrative petitions and were heightened by ongoing litigation seeking an interlocutory injunction to restrain the development of the plot for private residential use.
The suit also seeks to protect an adjoining property pending the determination of the substantive case.
According to the organisation, the legal proceedings raise important questions about the designation of the land, its alleged function as a drainage corridor and the potential consequences of allowing private development on the site.
It added that the dispute was also being addressed through an alternative dispute resolution process before the FCT Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, which it understood was nearing completion.
The organisation further said the FCDA had inspected the site and reportedly confirmed that it was reserved for an infrastructure corridor.
It argued that the outstanding legal, administrative and technical issues should be resolved before any action capable of causing irreversible damage was taken.
Despite the unresolved issues, Amnesty International Nigeria said the Director of Development Control had issued a demolition notice dated October 9, 2026, reportedly targeting protective boundary structures along the corridor.
It warned that proceeding with the demolition before a proper review could undermine due process, prejudice efforts to resolve the dispute and expose neighbouring properties and essential infrastructure to avoidable risks.
The organisation also expressed concern about the potential impact of the proposed development on neighbouring properties, including its national office, residential premises and nearby national security facilities.
It said interference with the drainage infrastructure could obstruct stormwater flows, increase flooding and expose surrounding properties and communities to environmental hazards.
Amnesty International Nigeria recalled that it had written to Mr Wike and the FCDA in May 2026, warning that construction on the corridor could threaten the structural stability of its building and residential premises and expose them to severe flooding.
It said it had also cautioned that the corridor served a wider drainage function and that obstructing it could disrupt drainage systems and increase flooding risks across the district.
The organisation reiterated its call 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.
It said decisions affecting critical utility corridors should be based on verifiable technical evidence, applicable laws and the public interest.
Amnesty International Nigeria called on the FCT minister, the FCDA and other relevant authorities to immediately suspend planned demolitions pending an urgent legal and technical review, taking into account the ongoing litigation and alternative dispute resolution process.
It also urged the authorities to review the allocation of Plot 5334 to Hammari Energy Limited and disclose the relevant allocation records, planning approvals, technical assessments and legal basis for permitting private development on land reportedly reserved for public infrastructure.
The organisation further called for an independent assessment of the drainage infrastructure and said no development should proceed until the potential risks to public safety, neighbouring properties and the environment had been properly evaluated.
It urged the authorities to respect due process and the rule of law, ensure that affected parties had access to justice and effective remedies, and protect essential 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,” the organisation said.
It said a temporary suspension would allow the outstanding issues to be addressed without risking irreversible damage to public infrastructure, neighbouring properties or the environment.
Amnesty International Nigeria urged Mr Wike to ensure that the relevant authorities acted lawfully, transparently and in the public interest, stressing that the protection of Abuja’s critical infrastructure, public safety and the environment should take precedence where these interests conflict with private development.