The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has ordered a ban on the use of mobile phones by staff of the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS) and the Department of Land Administration.
According to an internal memo issued by AGIS head Chijioke Nwankwoeze, officers on Grade Level 14 and below are prohibited from bringing phones into the office from Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
Insiders said the directive followed the viral circulation of videos showing Wike’s confrontation with a naval officer in Abuja.
The ban has drawn backlash from workers and civil rights groups, who described it as oppressive and dictatorial.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) condemned Wike’s verbal assault on the officer, calling it disrespectful and unbefitting of a public official. The group urged President Bola Tinubu to caution the minister.
