A human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has expressed concerns over the planned demolition of structures along a public utility corridor in Maitama, Abuja. The demolition is reportedly part of a plan to convert the land into a private estate for Hammari Energy Limited. Adeyanju urged Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to suspend the demolition and order a transparent review of the reported allocation of the disputed property.
The disputed property, identified as Plot 5334 in Cadastral Zone A06, Maitama, contains underground stormwater and sewage drainage infrastructure constructed by Julius Berger Plc between 2012 and 2014. This infrastructure was built to address flooding risks in the area. Adeyanju questioned the rationale for the proposed development, citing concerns about the safety of neighbouring properties and the implications of converting public infrastructure into a private estate.
Adeyanju called for an immediate suspension of the demolition exercise and an independent technical assessment of the site before any further action was taken. He emphasized that critical public infrastructure and the safety of residents must not be put at risk by development decisions made without resolving fundamental questions. His comments follow a statement by Amnesty International Nigeria, which also urged Wike and the relevant authorities to halt the planned demolition and review the reported allocation of the property.
Amnesty International Nigeria warned that proceeding with the demolition and proposed construction before resolving outstanding legal, administrative, and technical issues could increase flooding risks, threaten public safety, and undermine Abuja’s Master Plan. The organization disclosed that litigation over the property was ongoing, including an application for an interlocutory injunction seeking to prevent private residential development on the plot and protect an adjoining property.
According to Amnesty International, the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) had inspected the site and confirmed that it was reserved for an infrastructure corridor. Despite the unresolved issues, the Director of Development Control issued a demolition notice dated October 9, 2026, reportedly targeting protective boundary structures along the corridor. Amnesty International identified its National Office, nearby residential buildings, and national security facilities as among the properties potentially affected by the proposed exercise.
Amnesty International further urged the FCT Administration to disclose the relevant allocation records, planning approvals, technical assessments, and legal basis for permitting private development on land reportedly reserved for public infrastructure. The organization maintained that demolition activities should remain suspended until the outstanding legal and technical concerns had been resolved and the potential risks to public safety and the environment properly assessed.
The controversy surrounding the land allocation has raised concerns about the safety of neighbouring properties and the implications of converting public infrastructure into a private estate. The FCT Administration has yet to comment on the issue. The matter remains unresolved, with various stakeholders calling for a thorough review of the land allocation and an independent technical assessment of the site.
Key points
- - Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju and Amnesty International Nigeria have criticized the planned demolition and land allocation to Hammari Energy Limited. - The disputed property contains underground stormwater and sewage drainage infrastructure constructed to address flooding risks in the area. - The FCT Administration has been urged to disclose relevant allocation records and planning approvals for the private development.
