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Demands review of Plot 5334 allocation to Hammari Energy, cites pending court case and drainage concerns
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Amnesty International Nigeria has called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to immediately suspend planned demolitions along a disputed utility corridor in Maitama, Abuja, warning that the proposed private development could heighten flooding risks and threaten critical public infrastructure.
The organisation also demanded an urgent review of the reported allocation of Plot 5334, Cadastral Zone A06, to Hammari Energy Limited for private real estate development, insisting that outstanding legal, administrative and technical issues must be resolved before any demolition or construction proceeds.
In a press statement dated October 11, Amnesty International Nigeria said the disputed corridor reportedly accommodates underground stormwater and sewage drainage infrastructure constructed by Julius Berger Plc between 2012 and 2014 to address flooding risks in the area.
It warned that developing the land for private residential purposes could undermine Abuja’s Master Plan, compromise drainage systems and expose neighbouring properties and communities to environmental hazards.
The organisation’s intervention followed a demolition notice dated October 9, 2026, reportedly issued by the Director of Development Control and targeting protective boundary structures along the corridor.
Amnesty International expressed concern that proceeding with the demolition while questions surrounding the land’s designation and proposed use remain unresolved could undermine due process and expose essential infrastructure and adjoining properties to avoidable risks.
“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.
The dispute is already the subject of litigation seeking interlocutory injunctions to restrain the development of Plot 5334 for private residential use and protect an adjacent property pending the determination of the substantive suit.
Amnesty International Nigeria also said an alternative dispute resolution process before the FCT Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee was reportedly nearing completion.
According to the organisation, the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) had inspected the site and confirmed that it was reserved for an infrastructure corridor.
It argued that the pending legal proceedings, ongoing dispute resolution efforts and reported findings from the FCDA made it imperative for the authorities to suspend actions that could cause irreversible damage before the issues were settled.
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The human rights organisation further raised concerns about the potential impact of the proposed development on its national office, residential premises and nearby national security facilities.
It recalled that, in correspondence to Wike and the FCDA in May 2026, it had warned that construction on the corridor could threaten the structural stability of its building and residential premises and expose them to severe flooding.
The organisation said the corridor serves a wider drainage function, warning that obstructing stormwater flows could disrupt drainage systems and increase flooding risks across the district.
It called for an independent technical assessment to establish the corridor’s drainage capacity, the implications of construction on the site and the potential risks to neighbouring properties and public infrastructure.
Amnesty International insisted that decisions affecting critical utility corridors must be based on verifiable technical evidence, applicable laws and the public interest rather than proceed without a full assessment of the consequences.
It urged the FCT Minister, the FCDA and other relevant authorities to suspend all planned demolition activities pending an urgent legal and technical review, including consideration of the ongoing litigation and alternative dispute resolution process.
The organisation also demanded the disclosure of allocation records, planning approvals, technical assessments and the legal basis for permitting private development on land reportedly reserved for public infrastructure.
It further called for measures to ensure that no development proceeds until the risks to public safety, neighbouring properties and the environment have been properly evaluated.
The organisation said the authorities must respect due process, guarantee affected parties access to justice and effective remedies, and protect essential public infrastructure.
“A temporary suspension would allow these issues to be addressed without risking irreversible damage to public infrastructure, neighbouring properties or the environment,” it said.
Amnesty International Nigeria urged the FCT administration to ensure that decisions concerning the disputed corridor were taken transparently and in accordance with the law, stressing that the protection of public safety, critical infrastructure and the environment must be considered where these interests conflict with private development.
