Wike takes fresh action after confrontation with Naval officer
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has directed a ban on mobile phones for certain staff of the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS) and the Department of Land Administration.
The order affects officers on Salary Grade Level 14 and below, who are now prohibited from bringing their phones into office premises starting Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
The directive came shortly after a video showing Wike in a heated argument with a Naval officer at a disputed property site in Abuja circulated widely on social media and WhatsApp groups reportedly shared by AGIS staff.
Sources said the minister viewed the video’s spread as a breach of trust and responded by restricting phone use in the offices.
The memo implementing the ban was issued by the head of AGIS, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, and instructed staff in the affected categories not to bring mobile phones into the workplace.
The FCT administration has not released an official statement explaining the reasons behind the new policy.
No Plan To Sanction Yerima – FG
Meanwhile the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has said that Lieutenant Ahmad Yerima, the naval officer involved in a tense encounter with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, will not face any disciplinary action.
The incident occurred at a disputed plot of land in Gaduwa District, Abuja, where Wike visited to address concerns over construction on the site.
The plot, linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo (rtd), was reportedly being blocked by soldiers from FCT officials enforcing a stop-work order.
Video footage of the encounter circulated widely online, showing a firm but respectful exchange between the FCT minister and the young naval officer.
Matawalle explained that Lieutenant Yerima was acting under orders and did not violate any military regulations.
He said that the situation should have been resolved through official channels rather than a public confrontation.
The minister added that the naval officer remained disciplined and professional throughout the incident.
He further revealed that the Chief of Naval Staff has started looking into the issues surrounding the disputed land.
According to Matawalle, no formal complaint has been submitted by the FCT minister, and the matter could have been prevented, as prior discussions with top defence officials had already promised that it would be addressed.
The Defence Minister urged that future disagreements of this nature should be managed through proper administrative procedures to avoid public disputes between officials.
He said: “The minister should not have confronted him. Lieutenant Yerima was acting on orders. If Wike had any concerns, he should have spoken to his superiors or to me directly since I oversee naval affairs.
“You can clearly see that he was respectful while standing his ground. As far as we are concerned, he did not break any law or military regulation.
“This whole situation was avoidable. Before the minister went there, he had already spoken with the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff, who assured him that the matter would be looked into.”
