{
  "id": 13793132,
  "title": "‘Wike plotting to demolish property protecting drainages’, Amnesty Int’l Raises Alarm",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/wike-plotting-to-demolish-property-protecting-drainages-amnesty-intl",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-11T18:44:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Trust",
    "slug": "daily-trust",
    "url": "https://dailytrust.com/wike-plotting-to-demolish-property-protecting-drainages-amnesty-intl-raises-alarm/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Amnesty International Nigeria has cautioned the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to halt demolition plans on a plot in Maitama, Abuja, until a review of its allocation is conducted. The organization expressed concern that the proposed construction could damage vital drainage systems, raise flooding risks, and conflict with Abuja's Master Plan. In a statement, Amnesty International Nigeria urged the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and other pertinent authorities to reassess the land's allocation given to Hammari Energy Limited for private real estate purposes. The corridor reportedly houses underground stormwater and sewage drainage infrastructure, installed between 2012 and 2014 by Julius Berger Plc to mitigate flooding. The group warned that allowing private development on the site might interfere with the drainage system, endanger nearby properties, and expose residents to environmental hazards. The call follows legal battles seeking temporary injunctions to stop the development and safeguard an adjacent property, as well as an alternative dispute resolution process with the FCT ADR Committee nearing completion. The FCDA inspected the site and confirmed its reservation for an infrastructure corridor, but the Director of Development Control issued a demolition notice on October 9, 2026, targeting protective boundary structures along the corridor. Amnesty International Nigeria argued that proceeding with demolition without proper review would violate due process, complicate ongoing dispute resolution, and put surrounding properties at risk. They noted that their offices, residential premises, and nearby security facilities could be affected. The organization requested an independent technical assessment of the corridor's drainage capacity, the consequences of construction, and the risks to neighboring properties. Decisions on critical utility corridors should be based on verifiable technical evidence, applicable laws, and the public interest, they emphasized. Amnesty International Nigeria demanded that the FCT authorities suspend the demolition pending a thorough legal and technical review, including consideration of current litigation and the alternative dispute resolution process. They also called for the disclosure of land allocation records, planning approvals, technical assessments, and legal justifications for permitting private development on land intended for public infrastructure. The organization urged authorities to prioritize due process, provide affected parties with access to justice, and safeguard essential public infrastructure, warning that demolition should not occur until significant questions about the land's designation, the safety implications of the proposed development, and applicable legal procedures are resolved.",
  "summary": "Amnesty International Nigeria has urged the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to suspend planned demolition activities affecting a public utility corridor in Maitama, Abuja, pending a review of its allocation for private development. The organisation said the proposed demolition and development of Plot 5334 in Cadastral Zone A06 could threaten critical […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}