"I wouldn’t have said that the military is a fool. I know their rules" — Wike clarifies his statement in his clash with Naval officer over a disputed land in Abuja.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has clarified remarks he made during an altercation with a naval officer amid an ongoing dispute involving a piece of land in Abuja.

Speaking at a press conference, Wike addressed public reactions to a video of the confrontation, insisting that his comments were misunderstood and taken out of context. 

According to him, his criticism was directed at the illegality of the officer’s actions, not at the Nigerian military as an institution.
In his words, “Some people will say I said ‘the boy, you are a fool.’ What I meant was this — you can’t be carrying out an illegal order — that’s what I meant. I didn’t say military you are a fool. I wouldn’t have said that. I wouldn’t have. I know the rule of the military.”

The clash reportedly occurred when Wike visited the disputed land and questioned the presence and resistance of naval personnel stationed there. 

The FCT Administration, he said, will continue to intervene wherever public property or legal procedures are being undermined.

The Nigerian Defence minister has however drummed support for Naval officer Lt. AM Yerima. Noting that he acted right.

Wike Rebukes Buratai for Comment on Clash With Naval Officer.

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike on Thursday criticised former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai (rtd), accusing him of misinterpreting the altercation he had last Tuesday with naval officers led by Lt. A.M. Yerima.

Wike questioned Buratai’s claim that his conduct amounted to a national security threat and a slight on President Bola Tinubu. 

Addressing reporters at his Life Camp residence, he faulted the former Army chief for asking him to apologise to Lt. Yerima, insisting Buratai had no authority to lecture him on proper behaviour.

He also blamed Yerima for escalating the confrontation over a disputed plot in the Gaduwa District, which the FCT Administration says was illegally acquired by former Naval Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo. Wike accused the officer of obeying an unlawful directive.

Wike said: “I read what one former Chief of Army Staff wrote. He cannot tell me of decency and he can’t teach me. This was the same man who (allegedly) directed his GOC to rig election, my election in 2019. He couldn’t rig me. He lost.

He told his GOC to kill me and I could not be killed. He became an agent in APC primaries to one of APC’s presidential aspirants. Look at the rank of a polling agent. He is the one commenting that the minister did this and that. I have never seen people like this.

I have no regrets for my political opponents. I will continue to make them have sleepless nights. Whether you are in PDP, whether you are in APC, whether you are in ADC, it is not my business.

I have no regrets supporting President Tinubu and I have never hidden my intention and I will continue to do what is right. So, if you like to write anything you want to write, as far as I know, I am standing by the side of the law. If you like, bring every ethnicity coloration, it is your business”.

He urged all officials, regardless of status, to respect the rule of law at all times.

Wike vs Soldiers: Ordinary President hails Lieutenant Yerima.

The host of Brekete Family, a Human Rights Radio and Television programme, Ahmed Isah, popularly known as “Ordinary President,” has hailed Naval officer, Lt. A.M. Yerima, for his conduct during a confrontation with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, and FCT Administration officials.

He spoke while calling on Wike or President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to apologize over the Minister’s abusive language on Lt. Yerima.

Speaking on the Brekete Family programme on Wednesday, Ordinary President said: “Nigerians, in case we are deceiving ourselves, it’s not democracy that is holding this country [Nigeria] together.

“If the military decides to remove its hands from the matter that concerns this country, all of us are finished. I am not supporting the military to intimidate people, and I will not support the military being disrespected.

“What happened yesterday, that soldier that stood there [Lt. Yerima was representing Tinubu and Nigerians, and Wike disrespected him, and the people around Wike cannot advise him.

“I was expecting Wike to tender an apology since yesterday, and up till now, he has not apologized. This Lieutenant Yerima is the true reflection of the discipline our Nigerian military has. Let’s appreciate him.

“He respectfully neutralized the situation. Lieutenant Yerima, we are proud of you; you made the military proud and Nigerians proud. We are waiting for Wike to tender an unreserved apology.

“If Wike doesn’t apologize, Tinubu must apologize on his behave. We demand that you apologize. This is getting too much; people around him should advise him. Go and see El-Rufai, where is El-Rufai today?”

You Can't Shut Me Up, Look At You, You're My Junior You Can't Talk When I'm Talking-Lt. A.M Yerima.

Lieutenant A.M. Yerima, a Nigerian Navy officer, has drawn public attention after a video shared by Channels Television captured him leading a team of soldiers to block an alleged attempt by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to demolish the property of former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo (rtd).

In the footage, Yerima was seen standing firmly in front of police officers and officials from the FCT Administration who had arrived at the site to execute the demolition order. The naval officer resisted the move, insisting that the operation could not proceed without proper clearance from the appropriate authorities.

As tensions rose, Yerima clashed verbally with one of the police officers who tried to intervene in the heated situation. The visibly angry officer said, “You cannot shut me up. Look at you, you are my junior, you cannot even talk when I’m talking.” His response drew gasps from bystanders, highlighting the intensity of the standoff between the two security agencies.

Eyewitnesses reported that Yerima and his men successfully prevented the demolition team from entering the disputed property, located in an upscale district of Abuja. The building had earlier been marked for demolition by the FCT Administration over alleged violations of land use regulations.

Details of Conversation between FCT minister Wike and Naval Officer Emerge.

A heated verbal confrontation erupted on Tuesday between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and an unidentified uniformed officer during a visit to a disputed estate in the Gaduwa area of Abuja.

Video of the incident shows Wike accusing the officer and soldiers guarding the site of obstructing the FCT Administration’s work and laying claim to the parcel of land.

In the exchange, Wike orders the officer to “shut up,” calls him “a big fool,” and repeatedly reminds him that he was already in school long before the officer was born. The officer responded that he would not be shut up, insisting he was “an officer” acting on instructions and that he had integrity.

The altercation occurred amid intensified FCT efforts to clamp down on alleged illegal land allocations and encroachments in the capital.

Multiple news outlets say the minister’s convoy was briefly blocked at the site before the verbal clash, which has since been widely shared on social media. Officials from the FCTA and military sources were yet to release matching public statements at the time of reporting.

Wike Slams N5m Fines on Ganduje, Idiagbon, Oyinlola, Others for Illegal Land Conversion.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has imposed N5 million fines on former APC Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje and several prominent Nigerians for illegally altering the use of their properties in Abuja.

The sanctions affect both living and deceased persons, as well as public and private institutions, accused of converting their lands without approval, thereby violating the right of occupancy terms.

In a newspaper notice, Wike directed all affected allottees to pay the penalty fee within 30 days, by September 10, 2025. The order followed a review of land use in 15 streets across Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse 2, Garki 1, and Garki 2. He also approved the issuance of new title documents reflecting updated land use for a fresh 99-year term once conditions are met.

The FCT administration alleged that Ganduje converted a residence at Adetokunbo Ademola, Wuse 2, into a banking hall without approval. A property at Gana Street, Maitama, belonging to the late Gen. Tunde Idiagbon, was turned into Serendib Hotel and Suites, while former Osun State Governor Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola allegedly converted a residence at Yakubu Gowon Crescent, Asokoro, into Zhouyi Hotel.

Two former Chief Justices of Nigeria were also listed. Justice Atanda Fatai-Williams’ Maitama residence was reportedly changed into a wood factory and shopping centre, while Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar’s land was converted into a supermarket.

Senator Shehu Sani was sanctioned for turning a residence at Aminu Kano Crescent into a showroom. Others include former Governors Forum DG Okauru Okauru (residence converted to showroom), Lt. Gen. Rufus Kupolati (residence to gym), former FCT Minister Abba Gana (residence at Usuma, Maitama, redesigned into a mall), the NNPC (residential property to NNPC Medical Services), and the Nigeria Police (public place converted for POWA use).

Resident Doctors in FCT Begin Seven-Day Warning Strike

The Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital Territory (ARD-FCT), has embarked on a seven-day warning strike to protest unresolved issues in the health sector.

Announcing the action in Abuja, ARD-FCT President, Dr. George Ebong, said the decision followed resolutions at an emergency meeting on Friday, September 5. He explained that despite several rounds of dialogue, the FCT Administration had failed to address long-standing concerns.

Issues raised include lack of manpower, poor welfare, unpaid salaries, unexplained deductions, and the psychological toll of long working hours. Ebong noted that no new employment has taken place since 2011, leaving doctors to cover multiple departments. He recalled that the pressure of excessive workload recently led to the death of a doctor in Port Harcourt.

The association also cited unsafe conditions, pointing to a nurse who died from a snake bite in Abaji General Hospital. “The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has been notified severally of the issues affecting doctors but has allegedly turned a blind eye,” Ebong said. He urged the administration to declare a state of emergency across the 14 district and general hospitals in the FCT.

The strike, he stressed, will be uninterrupted. “If after seven days the issues raised are not resolved, the doctors will embark on an indefinite strike,” he warned, adding that decision-making must include frontline health professionals.

Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Isaq Salako, expressed optimism that ongoing talks with the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) could avert a nationwide strike. “The National Association of Resident Doctors has issued an ultimatum, but I believe with the level of conversation ongoing, we had a meeting on Monday; we are making progress,” he said on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.

He explained that the main issue remains the residency training allowance, about 40 percent of which for 2025 is yet to be paid. “That is my hope, and that is what we are working on,” he said.

FCT’s First female Head of Civil Service, Grace Adayilo, slumps, dies.

The first female Head of Civil Service for the Federal Capital Territory, Grace Adayilo, has passed away under sudden and tragic circumstances.

It was gathered that Adayilo slumped and lost consciousness early Monday morning and could not be revived.

The cause of her death has not yet been officially disclosed.

Her demise has thrown the FCT Administration into mourning, especially considering her trailblazing status.

Adayilo was appointed in October 2024 by President Bola Tinubu.

She made history as the first female and first indigenous person to occupy the position of Head of Service in the Federal Capital Territory.

Chain Reactions Africa names Franklin Ozekhome as Executive VP, launches Africa’s first intelligent robot to service clients
Breaking: FCT’s First female Head of Civil Service, Grace Adayilo, slumps, dies
Big Brother Naija and evolution of Nigeria’s entertainment industry Union Bank of Nigeria completes merger with Titan Trust Bank Niger Delta Stakeholders To Ojulari: Stop playing victim over failed refineries Until her death, she had remained active in duty. Her last official assignment was on Thursday, August 28 where she represented the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, at the G7 Security Meeting held in Abuja.

Tributes have started pouring in from colleagues, public servants, and civil society members, who described her as a committed and dedicated leader in public service.

Wike explains why he revoked UniAbuja, Tech Village land.

Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory has explained the reason behind the revocation of land belonging to the University of Abuja and the Abuja Technology Village.

Speaking during his monthly media chat with select journalists, the Minister said that the lands for these institutions were revoked out of necessity.

According to the Minister, this act would pave the way for the construction of the ambitious Abuja City Walk project, which is modelled after the renowned Dubai City Walk.

He also stated that after 20 years, investors had failed to develop the sites according to the agreements they had made with the government on the projects.

Also denying allegations of land-grabbing, Wike said the FCT Administration has continued to provide infrastructure to these institutions for the past decades without a single financial gain.

“The FCTA provided the infrastructure for more than 20 years, and nothing has been done. If you go there, they have rented out the place.

“You will see where NNPC tankers are parked, and they collect money. So many people are now claiming to have C of Os. I said okay, I must resolve this problem. There is nothing called Abuja Technology Village,” Wike said.

The minister further stated that the FCTA is planning on a policy shift that could address the issue of holding unutilised lands without development within the stipulated time.

“Land not developed within the stipulated period will revert to the FCTA,” he added.

WIKE BEGINS CRACKDOWN OF BEGGARS, MISCREANTS IN FCT.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike has begun a crackdown on all the beggars, illegal traders, miscreants and scavengers operating within the FCT.

Lere Olayinka, the media aide to the FCT Minister said the crackdown has been launched across Abuja and its satellite towns.

According to Olayinka, the FCT Administration in an exercise tagged Operation Sweep Abuja will ensure that the territory is rid of all forms of nuisance.

He said the crackdown exercise would be conducted in line with a directive recently issued by the Minister.

In addition, Olayinka said miscreants such as one chance operators who specialise in robbing and attacking passengers will also be targeted.

Olayinka noted that the exercise would be coordinated in accordance with the Abuja Environmental Protection Act and other relevant laws.

He said, “Our nation’s capital should be a secure symbol of pride and beauty, not a site for street beggars and scavengers, most of whom are agents of criminal elements.”

This crackdown exercise, Wike’s aide said will be achieved through collaboration with a Joint Task Force, comprising security agencies and relevant FCT Secretariats, Departments and Agencies.

The security agencies and their operatives would be deployed to apprehend any persons found begging, scavenging, loitering or engaging in other acts inimical to the security and well-being of the residents.

He added that all necessary measures and arrangements have been made to profile those arrested by the operatives.

He noted that all those arrested would be further handed over to their various state governments.

“Security of lives and properties of residents of the FCT is of paramount importance to the government; we must all join hands to achieve a safer Abuja,” Olayinka stated.

Residents of the FCT have also been urged to remain security conscious and ensure that they report any suspicious movement to the appropriate authorities or call 08061581938 and 08032003913.

NANS gives Wike seven days to reopen Abuja schools.

The National Association of Nigerian Students has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to reopen public primary schools in Abuja.

The student body said failure to do so would result in protests and the shutdown of the Federal Capital Development Authority.

The warning follows the continued closure of public primary schools in the FCT for over two months, due to unresolved issues between the FCT Administration and the Local Government Education Authorities.

In a strongly worded statement on Tuesday by its National President, Olushola Oladoja, and National PRO, Samson Adeyemi, NANS accused the FCTA of denying children from low-income backgrounds access to basic education.

AAC Slams Wike-Led FCT Administration For Spending Billions On ICC While Teachers’ Strike Enters Day 90 Sahara Reporters

Tinubu Intervenes On FCT Ground Rent, Defaulters Given 14-Day Grace
The FCTA commenced enforcement on the 4,794 properties revoked for non-payment of Ground Rent, from 10 to 43 years on Monday
Following the sealing of several structures in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Monday by the FCT Administration, defaulters have been granted a 14-day grace period to settle their ground rents with associated penalties, after the intervention of President Bola Tinubu.