Amnesty International Urges FCT Minister Wike to Halt Maitama Utility Corridor Demolitions

Human rights watchdog Amnesty International Nigeria has called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to immediately halt scheduled demolition exercises around a designated public utility corridor in Abuja. According to a report by Channels Television, the advocacy group is urging the FCT administration to reconsider the allocation of the green buffer zone for private residential real estate development.

Drainage Infrastructure and Master Plan Integrity

The contested site, identified as Plot 5334 in Cadastral Zone A06, Maitama, reportedly sits atop critical municipal infrastructure. The organisation stated that the area houses underground stormwater and sewage systems installed by engineering contractor Julius Berger Plc between 2012 and 2014 to curb severe flooding in the district.

Amnesty International warned that permitting private construction over this protective corridor threatens the integrity of Abuja’s Master Plan and could destabilise vital municipal drainage systems. According to the organisation, any interference with the underground channels could impede water run-off, exacerbating environmental risks and exposing surrounding residential buildings to structural hazards.

Pending Litigation and Dispute Resolution

The group noted that administrative petitions and court proceedings are actively challenging the development. Litigants have sought interlocutory injunctions to halt private residential construction on Plot 5334 pending a substantive ruling on the lawful purpose and zoning status of the plot.

Amnesty International further revealed that the dispute is concurrently under consideration by the FCT Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Committee, a process said to be near completion. The organisation noted that the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) had previously surveyed the location and acknowledged its status as a reserved infrastructure strip. Despite these continuing processes, the FCT Director of Development Control issued a demolition notice on 9 October 2026 targeting boundary structures along the green area.

Calls for Transparency and Technical Reviews

The watchdog highlighted that neighbouring facilities—including its own national headquarters, nearby private residences, and local national security facilities—could face substantial risks if construction proceeds unchecked. In previous communications sent to Minister Wike and the FCDA in May 2026, Amnesty International cautioned that building over the corridor could trigger structural damage and severe waterlogging across the wider district.

Amnesty International is now requesting a full halt to enforcement measures until an independent technical assessment of the corridor’s drainage capacity is completed. The organisation also urged FCT authorities to make public the relevant planning permits, allocation files, and legal justifications that allowed a public utility corridor to be reallocated for private real estate, arguing that public safety and infrastructure preservation must take priority over commercial interests.

Source: Channels Television

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