By Ademuyiwa Balikis
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.
The directive, which took effect on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, applies to employees on Salary Grade Level 14 and below, who are now prohibited from entering the office premises with their mobile phones.
An internal memo signed by the Head of AGIS, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, conveyed the directive, stating that all affected officers must comply immediately.
The move followed the circulation of a viral video showing Minister Wike in a heated exchange with a naval officer during an inspection of a disputed land in Abuja. In the video, Wike was seen confronting the officer over allegations that soldiers were being used to obstruct lawful land operations, a scene that drew wide public attention and reactions across the country.
The decision has, however, attracted strong criticism from rights advocates and civil society groups, who described the phone ban as an embarrassing and unconstitutional act that infringes on workers’ rights, urging its immediate withdrawal.
