Residents of KYC Estate in Guzape District, Abuja, have appealed to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to intervene in a dispute involving rock blasting and an alleged plan to fill a drainage channel near their properties.
The residents say repeated blasting activities around the estate have damaged buildings, while the alleged filling of a drainage channel behind their property could obstruct stormwater and increase flooding risks.
The dispute involves a property at Plot 1785, Cadastral Zone A09, Guzape District, represented at a press briefing by Adango Jumbo and Prince Joseph Kpokpogri.
According to the residents, blasting activities have continued despite a formal legal notice issued to the chairman of KYC Estate on August 12, 2026. They said the notice demanded an immediate halt to the activity and raised concerns about alleged damage to the property.
Residents Allege Structural Damage
The residents alleged that the blasting had caused significant damage to the building, including a collapsed POP ceiling, shattered glass panels, cracked walls and damage to windows and doors.
They also complained about persistent noise and dust, which they said had disrupted residents’ use of the property.
The residents said their lawyers, Ajunwa & Co., gave the KYC Estate chairman two days from receipt of the August 12 letter to stop the blasting.
They further alleged that the letter referenced provisions of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board Act, 1997, and included photographs showing the alleged damage.
Kpokpogri is seeking N100 million in compensation for the damage and what the residents described as the physical and psychological distress suffered by occupants.
The residents said personnel subsequently visited the property and carried out repairs, including work on the damaged ceiling.
They interpreted the repairs as an acknowledgment that damage had occurred. However, they said blasting continued after the intervention.
The residents argued that the continued activity required regulatory attention and a lasting resolution.
Developer Rejects Residents’ Claims
The developer, Michael Auta Ayuba, has rejected the allegations.
During a tour of the property by journalists, Ayuba said he had moved into the area before the residents who are now complaining about the blasting.
He said the blasting began in 2019, before Kpokpogri and other residents established their properties in the area.
According to Ayuba, he had advised newer residents to suspend construction work until his blasting exercise was completed, but they continued with their projects.
He also rejected suggestions that the blasting was being conducted without regulatory approval.
Ayuba said he had obtained the necessary approvals and described the activity as “controlled blasting” conducted under the supervision of relevant agencies, including security personnel.
His account therefore differs significantly from that of the residents, who are asking the FCT authorities to intervene.
Dispute Over Drainage Channel
The residents have also raised a separate concern involving a drainage channel behind their property.
They attributed the planned filling of the channel to Deansgate Trio Services Nigeria Limited, which they said holds an Offer of Statutory Right of Occupancy for Plot 1803, Cadastral Zone A09, Guzape, dated October 29, 2024.
The residents warned that filling the channel could interfere with the natural movement of stormwater.
They argued that the matter requires investigation by the FCT Administration and other relevant regulatory authorities before any development affecting the drainage route proceeds.
According to their statement, allowing the channel to be filled could increase flooding risks for properties in the surrounding area.
However, Ayuba disputed the description of the area as an unlawfully blocked waterway.
He said he had a valid allocation from the FCT Administration and maintained that the stream channel had already been properly mapped.
He described the location as a large expanse of land separated by a stream rather than a canal.
The conflicting accounts mean that the legal status of the drainage area and the approvals covering the development remain central issues in the dispute.
FCT Already Reviewing Flood Risks
The residents’ concerns come against the backdrop of renewed attention to flooding and drainage infrastructure across Abuja.
Earlier in September, the FCT Administration identified inadequate drainage systems, undersized bridges and obstruction of natural waterways as major factors contributing to flash flooding in parts of the capital.
The assessment followed flooding along the Lugbe Airport Road axis, opposite Glory Dome, and involved officials from the Federal Capital Development Authority, FCT Emergency Management Department, Department of Engineering, Development Control and the National Emergency Management Agency.
The assessment found inadequate drainage infrastructure at an estate behind Trademore Estate and noted that heavy rainfall had caused stormwater to flow towards the Airport Expressway.
Officials also identified concerns at Dogongada Bridge in Lokogoma, where the existing bridge was considered inadequate to handle large volumes of stormwater during heavy rainfall.
At Efab Estate, the assessment attributed flooding in some areas partly to the diversion of natural waterways and inadequate drainage infrastructure.
The FCTA subsequently launched drainage clearance operations across the territory, including the clearing and desilting of drainage channels and waterways.
Wike Administration Under Pressure To Enforce Regulations
The Guzape dispute comes as the FCT Administration faces increased scrutiny over development activities, drainage systems and compliance with the Abuja Master Plan.
Wike had previously ordered investigations into flooding in parts of Abuja, including Airport Road and Lokogoma. The administration said it was examining both natural factors, such as heavy rainfall, and human activities that could worsen flooding.
The minister has also stressed the need for enforcement where developments violate planning requirements or obstruct infrastructure and waterways.
For the KYC Estate residents, the current dispute therefore involves both the alleged damage caused by blasting and the potential consequences of altering drainage around their properties.
They are asking the FCT Administration to investigate the complaints, determine whether the relevant approvals and environmental requirements have been met, and prevent any activity that could endanger surrounding properties.
Residents Threaten Further Legal Action
The residents said they would continue pursuing redress over the alleged damage and seek an end to the blasting.
They also reserved the right to take further legal action to protect the property and its occupants.
For his part, Ayuba maintains that his blasting operation is approved and controlled and that his land allocation is valid.
The dispute will therefore require clarification of the relevant planning approvals, environmental requirements, property boundaries and drainage plans before the competing claims can be conclusively resolved.
The broader flooding concerns in Abuja make the drainage component particularly significant. The FCTA’s recent assessments have already identified blocked or diverted waterways and inadequate drainage infrastructure as contributors to flooding in several locations across the capital.
As residents await intervention, the Guzape case places renewed focus on the balance between property development, environmental compliance, drainage protection and the enforcement of Abuja’s planning regulations.
