Abuja, Nigeria—A dramatic and highly charged confrontation unfolded in Abuja's Gaduwa District on Tuesday when the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, was blocked by armed Naval officers from accessing a disputed parcel of land linked to a former high-ranking military official.¹

The incident occurred as Wike and FCT Administration (FCTA) officials arrived at Plot 1946 in Gaduwa, intending to enforce a demolition or stop-work order on a structure the FCT authorities claim is illegal and lacks valid approval.²

Heated Verbal Exchange on Site

Tensions escalated immediately when a contingent of armed Naval personnel, allegedly acting on the instructions of former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo (rtd.), physically blocked Wike’s convoy and refused to let him enter the fenced site.³

Video footage of the confrontation captured a fierce verbal exchange between the visibly angered Minister and the officer leading the military team, identified as a Naval Lieutenant.

• Wike's Challenge: The Minister was heard demanding to see the legal documents authorizing the development, repeatedly stressing that no one is above the law.⁴ “Show me the document you have. You have no document. You cannot use soldiers to intimidate government officials doing their job. This country cannot continue this way,” Wike insisted.

• Officer's Defense: The Naval officer stood his ground, maintaining that they were acting on "orders from above" and that the land had been legally acquired with full documents submitted to the FCTA.⁵

• Verbal Escalation: The confrontation included moments of severe friction, with Wike shouting, "You're a fool!" to which the officer retorted, "I am not a fool, sir, and you have no right to call me one."⁶

Vow to Resist Intimidation

Following the confrontation, Wike addressed the press, condemning the action of the military personnel and vowing that his administration would not be intimidated by any powerful individual, regardless of their past office.⁷

"I don't understand how somebody who once occupied such a high office cannot come to the FCT Minister to explain his situation, but instead uses soldiers to intimidate people," Wike stated. "I am not one of those who will succumb to blackmail or intimidation."

Wike confirmed that the FCTA Director of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, had earlier been chased away by the soldiers while attempting to enforce the stop-work order, noting that the property lacked both FCTA allocation and building approvals.⁸

The Minister disclosed that he had contacted the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff, who assured him that the matter would be investigated and resolved.⁹

The incident underscores the FCT Administration's ongoing campaign against alleged land grabbing and illegal development in the capital city, a stance that has frequently put Minister Wike at odds with powerful and influential figures.