The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has issued a strict ban on the use of mobile phones by staff of the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS) and the Department of Land Administration.
The new directive affects officers on Grade Level 14 and below, stopping them from entering their offices with mobile phones starting Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
According to an internal memo signed by the Head of AGIS, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, “There shall be a ban on the use of mobile phones within the office premises for all officers on Salary Grade Level (SGL) 14 and below… affected staff are not permitted to enter the premises with their mobile phones henceforth.”
Sources within AGIS disclosed that the decision followed the minister’s anger over the viral footage, which was reportedly shared across WhatsApp groups by some staff members “The minister was furious that the videos spread among workers. He felt betrayed and saw it as sabotage,” a source said.
The policy has sparked outrage among workers and civil rights advocates, who condemned it as primitive, draconian, and anti-labour. Critics say it reflects Wike’s growing intolerance for criticism and his penchant for authoritarian control.
“It’s absurd that in 2025, a minister would ban phones in a public agency because of a viral video,” one labour activist fumed. “This is not leadership—it’s paranoia in power.”
As of press time, the FCT Administration had yet to issue any official clarification regarding the controversial directive.
On Tuesday, Wike clashed with some personnel of the Nigerian military over a land in the Gaduwa district of the area.
“This is unprofessional. You cannot be threatening a minister like this,” one of the officials accompanying Wike told the soldiers as the minister and his team tried to gain access to the land.
The minister, unhappy over the development, questioned the actions of the military officers, saying no one is above the laws of the land.
Wike questioned the development of the land, alleging that due process was not followed.
“You have no document,” the FCT minister said during the impasse on Tuesday, but the soldiers did not budge, saying that they were following instructions.
“We cannot continue to act in impunity. We cannot continue this way. This country cannot go along this line.
“You cannot be higher than any government. You cannot be carrying a gun to intimidate anybody. I am not one of those that they can intimidate,” he said
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