By Emeka Blast 
Tension After Viral Clash: Wike Prohibits Phone Use at AGIS Offices
In a move critics are slamming as “paranoid overreach,” Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has ordered a blanket ban on mobile phone use by staff of the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS) and the Department of Land Administration, effective immediately. The directive, targeting junior officers on Salary Grade Level (SGL) 14 and below, bars them from even entering office premises with their devices—a sweeping clampdown issued just 24 hours after a viral video of Wike’s explosive confrontation with a naval officer exploded across social media.
The internal memo, signed by AGIS Head Chijioke Nwankwoeze and circulated Tuesday evening, reads in part: “With effect from Wednesday, November 12, 2025, there shall be a ban on the use of mobile phones within the office premises for all officers on Salary Grade Level 14 and below. Affected staff are not permitted to enter the premises with their mobile phones henceforth.” Sources within AGIS attribute the order directly to Wike’s fury over the video, allegedly shared via staff WhatsApp groups, which captured his heated exchange with Lt. A.M. Yerima at a disputed Gaduwa District plot linked to retired Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo.
From Clash to Clampdown: The Viral Trigger
The ban follows Tuesday’s standoff at Plot 1946, Gaduwa, where Wike’s enforcement team clashed with soldiers guarding the site. In the now-infamous footage, Wike lambasts Yerima as a “fool” for allegedly using military muscle to protect an unauthorized development, shouting, “The man took land because he was the Chief of Naval Staff?” The video, amassing over 500,000 views on X and WhatsApp by Wednesday morning, ignited a firestorm of memes, debates, and condemnations.
AGIS insiders whisper that Wike viewed the leak as “sabotage,” suspecting staff filmed or forwarded the clip during the operation. “The minister was livid that it went viral so fast among employees,” one anonymous source told reporters. “This ban is his knee-jerk way of plugging the leak—punishing the rank-and-file for exposing what he sees as his embarrassment.”
Wike, known for his no-nonsense land enforcement drives, has yet to comment publicly on the policy. His office cited “maintaining discipline and information security” as the rationale, but labor unions and rights groups aren’t buying it.
Outrage Erupts: ‘Paranoia in Power’ or Necessary Discipline?
The directive has drawn swift backlash, with critics decrying it as an assault on workers’ rights in the digital age:
- Human Rights Lawyer Tope Temokun: “This is embarrassing, discriminatory, and a gross violation of labor rights. Issued right after the video went viral, it reeks of cowardice and fear of scrutiny.”
- Labour Activist (anonymous): “Absurd in 2025—banning phones in a public agency over a viral clip? It’s not leadership; it’s paranoia.”
- National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS): Already fuming over the clash, NANS President Comrade Atiku Isah called the ban “intolerant and backward,” urging President Bola Tinubu to intervene. “We won’t tolerate disrespect to uniformed officers or suppression of staff freedoms.”
Supporters, however, frame it as Wike’s tough-love approach to curbing distractions and leaks during sensitive operations. “In land enforcement, loose lips sink ships—or in this case, demolitions,” quipped a Wike aide.
| Stakeholder Reactions | Quote | Stance |
|---|---|---|
| AGIS Staff Union | “This hits junior officers hardest—how do we even coordinate work without phones?” | Opposed; planning protest |
| Defence HQ | “Unshaken, Unbent, Unbroken” (via X post) | Neutral; monitoring |
| Civil Society Groups | “Draconian and outdated—violates freedom of expression” | Condemning |
| Wike Allies | “Necessary for operational security” | Supportive |
Broader Ramifications: Chilling Effect on Abuja’s Land Wars?
This comes amid Wike’s escalating “war on illegality,” which has demolished shanties and sparked elite lawsuits. The phone ban could deepen rifts with the military, already strained by the Gaduwa incident, and deter whistleblowing in a sector rife with grabbing scandals. As one analyst noted: “Wike’s fighting fire with a flamethrower—silencing staff won’t silence the streets.”
The FCT Administration has not responded to requests for clarification, but insiders hint at possible exemptions for emergencies. With NANS threatening rallies and unions mobilizing, the policy’s fate hangs in the balance—could it be Wike’s boldest bluff yet?
