The Nigerian Navy has declined to comment on a heated confrontation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and a military officer over an alleged land-grabbing incident in the Gaduwa District of Abuja.
When contacted on Tuesday, the Navy spokesman, A. Adams-Aliyu, said only, “No reply for now.”
The incident, which was captured in a viral video, showed Wike in a tense exchange with an officer said to be acting on behalf of a former Chief of Naval Staff. The minister accused the military of illegally taking over government land and vowed that no one would be allowed to break the law under his watch.
“Because you are an officer? Nobody does that. The man took land because he was the Chief of Naval Staff?” Wike fumed during the confrontation.
The officer, dressed in military camouflage, countered that the land was legally acquired. “I am an officer with integrity. Everything was acquired legally,” he said, prompting Wike to order him to keep quiet. When the officer refused, the minister snapped: “You are a very big fool. As at the time I graduated, you were still in primary school.”
Addressing journalists after the incident, Wike described the situation as “unfortunate” and insisted that he would not be intimidated. He explained that the FCT Administration had been investigating reports of illegal development in the area when military personnel allegedly intervened to obstruct enforcement officers.
“When they came here, I was informed that the military came to chase them away. So today, I was told the military had taken over the place, and I had to come myself. It’s really unfortunate,” he said.
Wike accused the officer of abusing his military background to intimidate FCTA officials, stressing that the rule of law must prevail. “I don’t understand how someone who held that position cannot approach my office to resolve an issue, but instead feels entitled to use his uniform to intimidate Nigerians. I will not succumb to blackmail or intimidation,” he declared.
He also challenged those involved to produce proper land and building approvals. “Where are the documents? You don’t have approval for building. How can we allow lawlessness to prevail in the country?” he asked.
The minister confirmed that he had contacted the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff, who assured him that the matter would be addressed. “We are not here to cause chaos, but I will not allow illegal development because someone was a former Chief of Naval Staff. I will not allow it,” he said.
In a statement signed by the Assistant Director of Press in the Minister’s Office, Rabi Umar, Wike condemned what he described as an act of lawlessness by military personnel and reaffirmed his commitment to restoring sanity to land administration in the FCT.
Land disputes and illegal developments have long been a recurring challenge in Abuja. Since assuming office in August 2023, Wike has intensified a campaign to reclaim encroached lands and demolish illegal structures, pledging to restore the Abuja Master Plan.
The latest confrontation underscores the tension between the FCT Administration and powerful interests over land ownership, a fight Wike insists he will not back down from.
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