A tense and widely circulated confrontation erupted in Abuja on Tuesday between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and armed military personnel over a disputed parcel of land, bringing the minister’s campaign against illegal developments to a dramatic head.
The incident, captured in a viral video, occurred on November 11, 2025, in the Gaduwa District of the capital city. Minister Wike, accompanied by officials from the FCT Administration (FCTA), had visited a construction site on Plot 1946 to enforce a stop-work order on what his office has termed an “illegal development.”
Upon arrival, the minister’s team was met with stiff resistance from armed military officers, reportedly from the Nigerian Navy, who were guarding the property. The land is allegedly linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo (rtd).
The situation quickly escalated into a heated verbal exchange between Wike and the senior military officer in charge at the site. The minister was seen on video angrily questioning the military’s authority to develop the land without proper approval and title documents from the FCTA.
“You are trying to take the law into your own hands. You cannot do that,” Wike was heard telling the officer. “You don’t have a title to this land… You think you can just come and take land?”
The military officer stood his ground, retorting that they were acting on superior orders and that the land was acquired through legal means. The exchange grew personal and volatile, with a scuffle nearly breaking out between the minister’s security detail and the soldiers before senior officers intervened to de-escalate the tension.
Following the public showdown, Wike remained defiant, vowing not to be intimidated by what he described as military “land grabbing.” He stated that he had reported the matter to the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff, insisting that “the illegality must not stand.”
The confrontation has drawn sharp reactions and ignited a debate on civil-military relations. A coalition of military veterans condemned Wike’s conduct, describing his language as “disrespectful and unbecoming of a public office holder” and demanding a public apology.
Adding to the criticism, former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd.), labeled the incident a “clear and present danger to national security.” He argued that the minister’s actions undermined the authority of the President as the Commander-in-Chief and called for an immediate apology to both the President and the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
As of now, the dispute over the land remains unresolved, with no formal statement issued by the military high command or the FCT Administration on the matter. The incident underscores the significant challenges Wike faces as he continues his aggressive push to restore the Abuja master plan and reclaim illegally occupied lands within the capital.
