There was tension in Abuja on Tuesday following a heated confrontation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and a naval officer during an enforcement operation at a disputed parcel of land.
The incident occurred at the Gaduwa District of Abuja, where officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) had gone to execute a stop-work and demolition order on a property alleged to have no valid title documents or approved building plan.
The enforcement team was reportedly stopped by armed naval personnel stationed at the site, leading to a sharp exchange between the minister and one of the officers identified as Lieutenant Ahmad M. Yerima.
A video of the incident, which circulated widely online, captured Wike confronting the officer and accusing the military of aiding illegal development and attempting to intimidate civil authorities.
“Because you are an officer? Nobody does that. The man took land because he was the Chief of Naval Staff?” Wike was heard saying during the encounter.
The naval officer, however, defended his presence at the site, stating that he was acting on official instructions. His response appeared to anger the minister further, as he ordered the officer to vacate the area immediately and accused the personnel of obstructing lawful government activity.
Sources revealed that the disputed property is linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff through a company that originally received the land allocation in 2007 for “park and recreation” purposes.
In 2022, it sought to convert the land for commercial use, a request that was declined by the FCTA. Despite the rejection, the company allegedly partitioned and sold parts of the land to private individuals, including the retired naval chief.
Speaking on Channels Television, Mr Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Publicity and Communications to the FCT Minister, described the incident as a fallout of a land scam that misled the former naval chief.
“That particular land was allocated for park and recreation. You don’t build there. The request for a change of use was declined, but the company went ahead to sell it. Instead of seeking redress, the retired officer chose to use military might,” Olayinka said.
He maintained that the disputed portion, located in the Mabushi area, is designated for public and corporate buildings, not residential development.
“As of today, Vice Admiral Gambo has no valid title document or approved building plan for that land,” he stated.
Reacting to the controversy, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and constitutional law expert, Professor Sebastine Hon, condemned the conduct of the naval officer, describing it as a “breach of the law.”
He said no military officer is permitted to obstruct a minister acting under lawful authority, stressing that the FCT minister exercises powers delegated by the president over land administration in Abuja.
“By Section 302 of the Constitution, the President has delegated all powers relating to land administration in the FCT to the minister. Therefore, Mr Wike stood in the place of the president and Commander-in-Chief that day,” the professor said.
Despite the controversy, Wike has maintained that his administration will continue to act within the law, adding, “I am not one who will succumb to blackmail or intimidation. We will enforce the law no matter who is involved.”
The FCTA reiterated its commitment to demolish structures built without valid approval and warned that no individual, no matter how highly placed, will be exempt from compliance.
