By Sam Kutos, Abuja
FCT Minister – Nov. 13, 2025
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has broken his silence over his altercation with a naval officer, Lieutenant Yerima, during an inspection visit to a disputed parcel of land in Abuja allegedly linked to former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo (rtd).
Addressing journalists at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Wike described the incident as “unfortunate” and “a test of institutional discipline,” insisting that the laws governing the FCT must be respected by all citizens, irrespective of their current or past status.
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“I will not sit back and watch government officials being harassed or intimidated by armed personnel while carrying out their lawful duties,” Wike said. “The FCT Administration is guided strictly by law, and no one — no matter how highly placed — is above that law.”
The minister explained that he could not have formally written to the Nigerian military over the matter, since the developer of the property, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo (rtd), is now a private citizen.
“When people retire, they become private citizens like everyone else,” Wike added. “It would therefore be inappropriate for the FCT Administration to treat this as an issue involving the Nigerian military.”
He recalled that other senior retired officers — including former Head of State, General Olusegun Obasanjo, and former Chief of Army Staff, General Theophilus Danjuma — had in the past contacted him directly to resolve land-related matters through due process.
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Meanwhile, sources at the Defence Headquarters told The Newspointer that the military hierarchy is aware of the confrontation and has commenced internal review of the conduct of the naval personnel involved.
A senior officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly, said the Armed Forces maintains respect for civil authority.
“The military remains committed to professionalism and civil-military cooperation. We are verifying the facts to ensure that standard procedures were not violated by any party,” the officer said.
Efforts to get an official statement from the Nigerian Navy were ongoing at the time of filing this report.
Eyewitnesses at the scene told The Newspointer that the minister arrived at the disputed property with top FCT officials to verify complaints about illegal encroachment when a naval team reportedly attempted to stop the inspection.
“The officer told the minister’s convoy that the area was a restricted zone. That was when the argument started,” said a witness who identified himself simply as Tunde.
The altercation, which was captured in a short video clip circulating online, has since sparked debate across social media about the limits of military involvement in civil property disputes.
The disputed land, located in the Guzape District of Abuja, is said to be part of a wider investigation by the FCT Administration into irregular land allocations allegedly made to private developers and retired public officials.
