Amnesty Urges Wike to Suspend Maitama Demolition Over Drainage Concerns
Amnesty International Nigeria has called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to suspend planned demolition activities around a utility corridor in Maitama, Abuja, pending a review of its allocation for private real estate development.
The organisation also urged the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and other relevant authorities to review the alleged allocation of Plot 5334 in Cadastral Zone A06, citing concerns about public safety, flooding and the protection of critical drainage infrastructure.
The Executive Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, made the appeal in a statement on Sunday. He warned that proceeding with demolition before resolving outstanding legal and technical issues could expose neighbouring properties and public infrastructure to risks.
According to the organisation, the corridor reportedly contains underground stormwater and sewage drainage infrastructure constructed by Julius Berger Plc between 2012 and 2014 to address flooding risks in the area.
Sanusi said allowing private construction on the land raised serious concerns about public safety, environmental protection, drainage infrastructure and the integrity of Abuja’s Master Plan.
Amnesty International Nigeria said concerns about the proposed development had been raised through administrative petitions. It added that litigation seeking to restrain the development of the plot for private residential use was ongoing.
The organisation also noted that an alternative dispute resolution process before the FCT Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee was reportedly nearing completion.
It further stated that the FCDA had inspected the site and reportedly confirmed that it was reserved for an infrastructure corridor.
Amnesty International Nigeria said these developments made it necessary for the authorities to resolve outstanding legal, administrative and technical issues before taking steps that could cause irreversible damage.
However, the organisation expressed concern that the Director of Development Control had issued a demolition notice dated October 9, 2026, reportedly targeting protective boundary structures along the corridor.
Sanusi warned that proceeding with the demolition before the relevant issues had been properly examined could undermine due process, prejudice ongoing efforts to resolve the dispute and expose neighbouring properties and essential infrastructure to avoidable risks.
The organisation also expressed concern about the possible impact of the proposed development on its national office, nearby residential premises and national security facilities.
Concerns Over Flooding and Drainage Infrastructure
Amnesty International Nigeria warned that interference with the drainage infrastructure could obstruct stormwater flows, increase flooding risks and expose surrounding properties and communities to environmental hazards.
Sanusi said the organisation had written to Wike and the FCDA in May 2026, warning that construction on the corridor could threaten the structural stability of its building and nearby residential premises.
He added that the corridor served a wider drainage function and that obstructing it could disrupt drainage systems across the district.
The organisation reiterated its concerns and 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.
It stressed that decisions affecting critical utility corridors should be guided by verifiable technical evidence, applicable laws and the public interest.
Calls for Review of Land Allocation
Amnesty International Nigeria urged the FCT Minister, the FCDA and other relevant authorities to immediately suspend all planned demolition activities affecting the corridor while an urgent legal and technical review is conducted.
The review, it said, should take account of the ongoing litigation and the alternative dispute resolution process.
The organisation also called for a review of the alleged allocation of Plot 5334 and the disclosure of relevant allocation records, planning approvals, technical assessments and the legal basis for permitting private development on land reportedly reserved for critical public infrastructure.
It urged the authorities to ensure that no development proceeds until the potential risks to public safety, neighbouring properties and the environment have been properly assessed.
The organisation further called on the authorities to respect due process and the rule of law, ensure that all affected parties have access to justice and effective remedies, and protect essential public infrastructure.
Sanusi said the authorities should not allow demolition to proceed while serious questions about the land’s designation, the safety implications of the proposed development and the applicable legal processes remained unresolved.
He maintained that 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 the FCT Minister to ensure that the relevant authorities act lawfully, transparently and in the public interest.
It added that protecting Abuja’s critical infrastructure, public safety and the environment should take precedence over private development interests where they conflict.
