Wike's Military Standoff: Abuja's Land War Ignites National Security Fears
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike clashed with Nigerian Navy officers over illegal construction in Abuja, vowing to halt all unauthorized developments despite military obstruction. The Minister of Defence has since praised the officer involved and pledged protection for personnel on lawful duty, highlighting a growing tension between civilian authority and military actions in the capital.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, recently confronted officers of the Nigerian Navy over what he termed illegal construction activities in the Gaduwa District of Abuja. The incident, which unfolded on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, along the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Way, involved military personnel obstructing the Minister and his team from inspecting and halting development on a disputed parcel of land.
Minister Wike asserted that the property, reportedly linked to former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, lacked the necessary title documents and Development Control Approval for its ongoing development. Accompanied by FCTA officials, including the Director of Development Control, Town Planner Mukhtar Galadima, Wike insisted that construction cease immediately due to the clear absence of legal authorization. However, naval officers, notably identified as Lt. A.M. Yerima, blocked access to the site, claiming they were acting on direct orders, allegedly from the former Chief of Naval Staff.
The confrontation quickly escalated into a tense verbal exchange, which was captured in a widely circulated video. During the heated discussion, Minister Wike expressed his profound displeasure, instructing an officer to