A coalition of residents, informal economy workers and civil society organisations has staged a peaceful demonstration at Jabi Lake Recreational Park in Abuja, calling on the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to immediately suspend the ongoing redevelopment of Jabi Lake Park.

It also demanded the publication of all agreements guiding the project and compensation for hundreds of displaced informal workers.

Led by Accountability Lab Nigeria, in collaboration with the Federation of Informal Workers Organisation of Nigeria (FIWON) and the Solidarity Centre, the coalition said it has submitted a formal petition to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and filed a Freedom of Information request seeking the full records of the redevelopment.

Speaking on behalf of the coalition yesterday, Country Director of Accountability Lab Nigeria, Friday Odeh, said the group was not opposed to development but insisted it must be transparent and inclusive.

He alleged that the FCTA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with private firms in February 2026 to transform the waterfront into a luxury tourism destination, but has yet to make the agreement public.

According to the coalition, Jabi Lake Park has served as a public recreational space under the Abuja Master Plan since 2007 and remains one of the few free open spaces available to residents.

He further claimed that demolitions and evictions carried out as part of the redevelopment have displaced street vendors, traders, artisans, transport workers and waste pickers, with many reportedly receiving little or no formal notice and no compensation.

Among others, Odeh also expressed concern that no Environmental Impact Assessment has been made public despite reports that the project includes residential towers and commercial developments.

Consequently, the coalition urged the FCTA to suspend construction, publish the MoU and all land titles relating to the project, release an independent Environmental Impact Assessment, conduct meaningful public consultations, compensate and resettle displaced workers, and provide written guarantees that the park will remain free or affordable for public use.