A Minister of Particular Concern

By Ugo Onuoha A Minister of Particular Concern “What happened between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and Navy Lieutenant A.M. Yerima is unfortunate. When Wike arrived at the site of the disputed land in Abuja, the officer explained that he was simply obeying lawful orders. Wike should not have exchanged words with the officer; he ought to have addressed his concerns through the officer’s superiors. He is our colleague, and he could have reached out to us to resolve whatever issue there was. “The officer’s action was lawful—he was trained to be disciplined, loyal, and obedient to orders. Therefore, the young officer merely carried out his duty, which is worthy of commendation. He did not commit any offence under military regulations. If you observe carefully, he spoke respectfully and conducted himself properly. “There is, therefore, no offence under military law for which he should be charged. Wike should not have engaged him in an altercation, especially out of respect for the uniform he was wearing. Anyone who disrespects a soldier indirectly disrespects the President, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. There is, therefore, no basis for any punishment against the officer. This is not about supporting the military to act disrespectfully towards civilians. The Minister should understand that every officer has superiors. “I gathered that he called the Chief of Defence Staff, who advised him to wait for an investigation. However, he did not wait and instead went straight to the site. As a leader, he ought to have exercised patience and waited for the outcome of the investigation. Wike also contacted the Chief of Naval Staff, who assured him that an inquiry would be conducted. Yet again, he did not wait. It was supposed to be a one-day inquiry, but he chose to go there and confront them. Now that the Chief of Naval Staff has visited the area—since it involves a land dispute—the matter will be investigated to determine who owns the lawful documents. If the land has been revoked, there are established procedures to follow diplomatically. “We [the Ministry of Defence] have not received any formal complaint from Wike, but I called him after the video went viral and advised that he should have spoken with me before going there, rather than confronting the officers directly.” A Matter Effectively Closed I have chosen to reproduce the words of Alhaji Bello Matawalle, the Minister of State for Defence, because of what they represent. Although he mentioned the need for further investigation, the tone and tenor of his statement suggest that the matter is effectively closed—and the naval officer has nothing to worry about. Lt. Yerima, by every indication, acquitted himself well. He was professional and measured in his conduct during that very public confrontation with a “super minister” known for his loquacity. To reinforce the sense that the matter is closed, one only needs to recall the words of the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru, who stated that his ministry and the armed forces “will always protect our officers on lawful duty.” Badaru added: “We will not allow anything to happen to him so far as he is doing his job, and he is doing his job greatly well.” The defence minister made this statement during a ministerial briefing for the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day in Abuja. Let that sink in. You may call it esprit de corps, but several retired generals from both the North and the South—including former Chiefs of Defence Staff and Army Staff, Generals Lucky Irabor and Tukur Buratai—have spoken in Yerima’s defence. They even called for a public apology from Wike to both Yerima and the Commander-in-Chief, President Bola Tinubu, for dishonouring a military officer commissioned by the President himself. Lawyers, Silence, and Political Optics Notable voices have weighed in on the Wike–Yerima confrontation over the disputed plot of land in Abuja last Tuesday. Some are lawyers—senior and junior—while others are political commentators and public intellectuals. A few have argued in favour of Wike, citing the 1999 Constitution (as amended), but the majority have faulted him, emphasizing due process, the rule of law, and the impropriety of resorting to self-help, as appeared to be the case here. As usual, the legal community has been divided—lawyers seldom agree on anything, even when the law seems straightforward to the “unlearned.” For most of the past week, they have been doing what they do best: lawyering. Their disputations may be intellectually stimulating, but one must not take them too seriously. Often, their arguments are shaped by convenient partisanship masquerading as constitutional fidelity. By the way, has anyone noticed the deafening silence from Wike’s colleagues in the Federal Executive Council? Nearly fifty cabinet members, yet not one has publicly spoken in his defence. Does this silence reflect how they truly regard the Minister? As for President Tinubu, who appointed Wike “on our behalf,” the Minister may well be beyond reproach or removal—for obvious political reasons. The Politics of 2023 and the Future of 2027 Wike appears untouchable—because of the past (2023) and the future (2027). President Tinubu, ever the political strategist, prioritizes electoral victory by any means necessary—the Machiavellian creed that the end justifies the means. And Wike fits perfectly into that school of thought. Tinubu “discovered” Wike in 2023, when the latter was nearing the end of his governorship of oil-rich Rivers State. Having fallen out with his own party, the PDP, Wike was eager to prove his relevance. Tinubu needed a foothold in the Niger Delta and, by extension, the national electoral map. In that year’s presidential election, Wike reportedly “delivered” Rivers State to Tinubu—an opposition candidate—in defiance of his own party’s standard-bearer, Atiku Abubakar. An APC governor from the North, astonished by Wike’s performance, allegedly remarked that his party merely begged for 25 percent of the votes but received an overwhelming—and inexplicable—victory. Unsurprisingly, the PDP still won the subsequent governorship election by a landslide, demonstrating the complex web of political transactions that define Nigerian

2nd Abuja Runway: FG Acquires 12,000 Hectares Of Land

2nd Abuja Runway: FG Acquires 12,000 Hectares Of Land

The Federal Government on Thursday acquired 12,000 hectares of land from Jiwa Community in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) for the construction of a second runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. This follows the payment of N825.8 million as compensation to people of the community to enable contractors move to site for the construction of the 4.2km runway. The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, revealed this at the official handing over of the site to the federal government as well as the contractor China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) commended the people of the community  He noted that the country has been looking forward to the construction of a second runway for the past two decades since the administration of General Olusegun Obasanjo and successive administrations have not been able to put it into reality. Keyamo stated that a second runway will further open more opportunities for both the community and Nigeria as well as bigger aircraft will be able to land, more commercial activities around the area. He said “For those that have lost farms, houses, and other means of livelihoods, I can assure you that you will gain more by the time the project comes to fruition.” ‘For the contractors I want to tell you that youths in this communities are able bodies I would like to hear that workers, artisans, labourers are been brought from other place to work with them, youths in the community must be considered first’ “If you don’t take them I will join them to protest, I will lead the protest against you, our eyes are on you, consider the sons and daughters of this community in your work,” he stated. While reacting, the Emir of Jiwa, HRM Alh Idris Yinusa said the compensation paid to them is nothing compared to what they have lost but there is nothing they can do as public interest overrides personal interest. He said, “My farm also affected, despite how big the farm was, meagre compensation was paid to me. I want to use this medium to say sorry to you and urge you to exercise patience; if there is anything to do about it we could have done it. He however appealed to the National Assembly to increase the amount of money paid as compensation to indigenes,  “If they don’t charge what is being paid many people will die, the money given to us is not okay for feeding, not to talk of training our children,” he stated. For instance, one person with about 30 children could get about N1million as compensation, he may end up sharing it at N200 to N10,000 and there is nothing we can do but the house of assembly needs to revise the current module of payment. The Emir called on CCECC to ensure that they prioritize their people when giving people work, because I would not like when our people start protesting we have many unemployed youths, so the contractor don’t need to look elsewhere  “We know the Aviation University is still coming up and a lot of work will be there. So wish the people with cooperate and work with the government so that we can achieve much,” he stated

FCT To Construct 30km Roads In 6 Area Councils –Wike

FCT Residents Get October 31 Ultimatum To Revert Land For Residential Use

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, says a total of 30-kilometre roads will be constructed across the six Area Councils of the FCT. Wike, who stated this when Sen. Philip Aduda and Mr Zakari Dobi visited him in his office in Abuja on Wednesday. Aduda was the immediate past Senator that represented FCT in the Senate in the 9th Assembly under the Peoples Democratic Party. He recontested the seat along with Dobi, who contested under the All Progressives Congress but lost to Senator Ireti Kingibe of the Labour Party. The minister said that the 30-kilometre roads, five in each of the six area councils, would be concluded before May 29, 2024. This, according to him, is to decentralise development efforts from the city centre to rural communities across the area councils. “President Bola Tinubu had directed that at least five-kilometre roads must be constructed in each of the six area councils before May 29. “This is part of his renewed hope agenda to ensure that people in rural communities were not left out in the development efforts of the current administration,” he said. Wike commended the visitors for working as a team irrespective of political party differences to work for the development of the FCT. He promised to routinely consult them to tribute their quota in developing the city, adding that the FCT Administration would work with everybody that has something to offer. The minister explained that the establishment of the Civil Service Commission for FCT was part of the renewed hope agenda by removing every bottle next to carrier progression. He added that FCT was equally pulled out of Treasury Single Account (TSA) to encourage development in the capital city. “The goal is to rebuild the lost hope among residents of the FCT,” Wike said. Earlier, Aduda explained that the visit was to congratulate Wike on his appointment as Minister of the FCT and commend him for the good work he was doing. He added that the visit was also to thank Tinubu for appointing a son of the soil as a Minister and pledged their full support to the development of the FCT for the interest of all. “We are also here to commend you for the bold step in establishing the Civil Service Commission for FCT, removing FCT from TSA and establishment of. Women Affairs Secretariat to address women’s concerns,” Aduda said. 

Nigeria @63: Wike Calls For Collective Efforts To Rebuild FCT

Wike Promises Improved Quality Healthcare Services In FCT

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has called for collective efforts in rebuilding the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Wike, who made the call in his independence message in Abuja on Sunday, stressed that building a strong and resilient society requires collective effort. “It means working together to address the issues that confront us, be it in the areas of education, healthcare, infrastructure, or security. “It means fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship that empowers our youth and creates opportunities for all. “As residents of the FCT, we are not only Nigerians but also representatives of our nation’s diversity and unity,” he said. He reiterated the FCT Administration’s dedication to enhance the infrastructural development of the FCT and improve essential social services to meet the growing needs of residents. He, however, noted that this monumental task cannot be accomplished by the FCTA alone. “It is a collective endeavor that requires the active participation and commitment of every resident. “In this regard, I implore all residents to fulfill their civic responsibilities by paying their taxes promptly, including ground rents and utility bills. “These contributions are crucial for sustaining and enhancing the services and infrastructure that make our city function smoothly. The minister described Independence Day as not merely “a date on the calendar”, but a reminder of the sacrifices made by our ancestors. He added that the day was also a reminder of the struggles they endured, and the dreams they held for a united and prosperous Nigeria. “Today, as the FCT Minister, I want to call upon each resident of the territory to rededicate themselves to the vision of a stronger and more prosperous Nigeria. “Let us be reminded, therefore, of our obligation to society; our responsibilities as citizens extend beyond our rights. “We must contribute to the well-being of our fellow Nigerians and actively participate in the development of our communities and the nation. “In the FCT, where diversity is our strength, let us also remember our unique role as residents. We must live up to the tenets of unity that our capital represents. “Let us build bridges across cultures, religions, and ethnicities. “As we strive to make Abuja a great city, I call upon every resident to join hands with us,” the minister said. 

NDLEA seizes 514,420 pills of suspected hard drugs in 3 states, FCT

NDLEA Confiscates 685 Kg Illicit Drugs, Shuts Down 13 Drug Outlets in Kaduna

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) operatives intercepted at least 514,420 pills of suspected hard drugs in Gombe, Adamawa, Ogun and other parts of the federation between August 21 and August 23. Its spokesman, Mr Femi Babafemi stated on Sunday in Abuja that NDLEA officers recovered an abandoned vehicle on Darazo Road in Gombe State containing 373,420 tramadol and diazepam pills on August 21. He added that operatives also recovered 60,000 pills of tramadol from a suspect travelling in a commercial Toyota Starlet car from Kalaa village to Mubi both in Adamawa on August 22. “Operatives raided the home of a drug dealer in Ibafo area of Ogun on August 23 and recovered 81,000 tablets of tramadol weighing 32.4kg. “In the FCT, operatives intercepted two consignments of suspected skunk with a gross weight of 1,242.1kg. “The first consignment of 665.1kgs was seized from a truck in Abuja on August 20, while the second one, weighing 577kg, was recovered during a stop-and-search operation on Lokoja- Abaji Expressway. “The consignment was concealed in an online shopping company’s goods delivery packs conveyed inside a containerised truck. The driver and his assistant were arrested,’’ he stated. Babafemi stated also that NDLEA operatives conducting stop-and-search operation on Jebba-Minna Road linking Kwara and Niger intercepted a commercial truck conveying goods from Lagos to Katsina on August 22. The truck had 37.5kg of suspected Indian hemp hidden among other items inside it, he added. The driver and his assistant were also arrested for investigation. “In Yobe, NDLEA operatives intercepted a vehicle on Potiskum (Yobe)-Gombe Road on August 23 “Three suspects in the vehicle were arrested with 133 blocks of suspected Indian hemp weighing 62kg,’’ Babafemi also stated. 

Abuja Building Collapse: Wike orders landlord’s, as victims assess losses

Abuja Building Collapse: Wike orders landlord’s, as victims assess losses

Following the collapse of a two-storey building on Lagos Street, Garki Village, Abuja, on Wednesday night, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, has directed the apprehension of the building’s owner. The incident resulted in the loss of two lives, with 37 individuals successfully evacuated and transported to medical facilities, according to a statement issued by the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FCT FEMA). During his visit to the collapse site on Thursday, Wike issued the order and emphasized the significance of accountability. Additionally, he instructed the Permanent Secretary of FCT Administration, Mr. Adesola Olusade, to cover the medical expenses of those who were hospitalized due to the collapse. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Wike also called upon the Department of Development Control under the FCT Administration to swiftly relocate the affected residents of the community. He underscored the importance of collaboration between stakeholders and government officials, emphasizing their shared responsibility to ensure the well-being of all concerned. The aftermath of the building collapse has prompted a swift response from authorities, reflecting the gravity of the incident and the commitment to safeguarding lives and property. “This is what we are talking about; people just built houses without due diligence to minimum standards. “This is why cities are planned – forestall this kind of incidents. “I sympathise with those who lost their lives while the medical bills of those in the hospitals will be paid immediately,” he said. Earlier, the Director, Development Control, Mr Mukhtar Galadima, had explained that the area was unplanned and houses an indigenous community. Galadima said that the two-storey building was multipurpose and was for both residential and commercial use. The permanent secretary commended security agencies and some contractors who came out in their numbers to render support in evacuating the rubbles and search for more victims. Also, the Director-General, FCT FEMA, Dr Idriss Abass, said that relevant agencies had been on ground since the occurrence of the incident, to rescue the victims. Abass said that efforts were still ongoing “to ensure that no one is left under the rubbles”. Meanwhile, some of the victims, who spoke with newsmen said that they lost their investments and properties to the incident, and called for government support. One of them, Ms Glory Perekeme, who operates a restaurant and a bar at the building, said she lost about N5 million as she could not take anything from her restaurant. “I closed for business around 10:00 p.m. and was on my way home when I received a call that the building had collapsed and my investment gone. “I am still in shock; and I don’t even know where to start from. “I really need assistance. Government should come to our aid so we can start all over again,” she said. Another victim, Mrs Ann Anyi, who owned a laundry and sells shoes, said that she lost everything to the incident. “I have been crying since I got the news of the incident in the midnight. “I am just hoping that when the rescue operation is over, I will be able to salvage something from the rubbles,” she said.

I didn’t purchase N300m bullet proof SUV -Wike

FCTA’s N34bn ground rent debtors will be penalised, says Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike has refuted claims of purchasing a N300 million Armoured Lexus LX600 SUV on assumption to office. Wike made the rebuttal shortly after a visit to Metro Train Station, Abuja on Wednesday to inspect ongoing rehabilitation of Abuja Rail Mass Transport System. Some sections of the media had published a picture of an Armored Lexus SUV model LX 600, fitted with ‘FCT – 01’ plate. The reports claimed that the SUV, which cost more than N300 million, belonged to the new FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. But Wike refuted the claim, describing it as mere “mischief”, stressing that he was sworn in on Monday and had not even sat down to work yet. He said that all he did was interact with staff and today (Wednesday), went to the Metro Train Station, Abuja with the Minister of State for FCT to see things for themselves. “We are now going back to the office to interact with each of the departments in the Federal Capital Territory Administration. “But I have seen what is going on in the social media, how the FCTA Permanent Secretary bought a bullet proof car of N300 million that I am using. “So, I want you people to go hit your hand there (on the car) and see whether it is a treated car. “With all due respect, people should be careful not to destroy other people,” he said. He explained that when he resumed, the Permanent Secretary, Mr Adesola Olusade had told him that the FCTA has cars that the ministers would use. “And the car we use is this (pointing at a regular Lexus SUV). “I have never approved for any car to be bought and I have not used any official bullet proof car. “I am not using a bullet proof car as FCT Minister, so we should report the right thing, and not destroy ourselves. “I want you to take a look at the car I came with, the one with the flag and see whether it is a bullet proof car”, he asked the journalists at the scene. In a related development, the Director Press, Office of the Minister, Mr Anthony Ogunleye, dismissed claims by some media outfits that Wike plans to demolish 6,000 houses across 30 settlements in Abuja, including Wadata Plaza. “We would like to categorically state that these stories are entirely false and without any basis,” Ogunleye said. He explained that the story on the demolition of 6,000 houses was reported by a national daily newspaper on Aug. 22, with the caption “Abuja land: FG may revoke land allocations, demolish 6000 buildings, slums”. He added that another mainstream newspaper also published what he described as an “irritating story”, with a caption, “Wadata Plaza will go down, Reactions trail Wike’s demolition threat”. “For the avoidance of doubt, the Minister did not in any of his pronouncements list the areas or the number of illegal houses to be removed. “Rather, his emphasis has always been that illegal settlements and structures would be removed for the greater good of the public. “Equally vexing” is the headline from a reputable broadcast station saying, “I will fix Abuja in 6 days” and attributed the same to the FCT Minister. “We wish to state quite clearly that at no time did the Honourable Minister say this or allude to this phrase in any way. This headline, therefore, is borne purely out of mischief,” he said. The director press pointed out that such sensational reporting not only misleads the public but also undermines the vital role that accurate and well-researched journalism plays in society.