Amnesty International Nigeria has urged the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to suspend planned demolition activities around a public utility corridor in Maitama, Abuja.

The organisation warned that private development on the site could increase flood risks and threaten critical infrastructure.

Executive Director, Isa Sanusi, in a statement on Sunday, said the 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.

Sanusi called on the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to review the allocation of Plot 5334, in Cadastral Zone A06, Maitama, to Hammari Energy Limited for private real estate development.

Sanusi said developing the corridor for private construction raised concerns about public safety, environmental protection and the integrity of Abuja’s Master Plan.

He said: “The corridor, designated as Plot 5334, reportedly accommodates underground storm-water and sewage drainage infrastructure constructed by Julius Berger Plc between 2012 and 2014 to address flooding risks in the area.

“Its development for private construction raises serious concerns about public safety, environmental protection, drainage infrastructure and the integrity of Abuja’s Master Plan.”

The organisation said the dispute had repeatedly been brought to the attention of the authorities through administrative petitions and was now the subject of ongoing litigation seeking an interlocutory injunction to restrain development on the plot for private residential use.

It added that the case was unfolding alongside an alternative dispute resolution process before the FCT ADR Committee, which it understood was nearing completion.

Amnesty International also said the FCDA had reportedly inspected the site and confirmed that it was reserved for an infrastructure corridor, urging the authorities to resolve the outstanding legal, administrative and technical issues before taking any action that could cause irreversible damage.

The organisation, however, 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.

It warned that proceeding with the demolition before the dispute was properly examined could undermine due process, prejudice ongoing efforts to resolve the matter and expose neighbouring properties and essential infrastructure to avoidable risks.

It also demanded the disclosure of the relevant allocation records, planning approvals, technical assessments and legal basis for permitting private development on land reportedly reserved for critical 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 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 urged the FCT Minister and relevant authorities to respect due process, ensure that affected parties had access to justice and effective remedies, and protect essential public infrastructure.

It maintained that decisions affecting critical utility corridors should be guided by verifiable technical evidence, applicable laws and the public interest.