The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has imposed 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 takes effect from Wednesday, November 12, 2025, restricts officers on Grade Level 14 and below from entering their offices with mobile phones.
According to an internal memo signed by the Head of AGIS, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, “There shall be a ban on the use of mobile phones within the office premises for all officers on Salary Grade Level (SGL) 14 and below. Affected staff are not permitted to enter the premises with their mobile phones henceforth.”
The decision comes days after videos showing a heated altercation between Minister Wike and a naval officer at a disputed property site in Abuja went viral on social media.
Sources revealed that the minister was reportedly angered by the circulation of the footage, which was shared across internal WhatsApp groups by some staff members.
“The minister was furious that the videos spread among workers. He felt betrayed and viewed it as an act of sabotage,” one source said.
The ban has triggered backlash among civil servants and rights advocates, who describe the move as “authoritarian” and “counterproductive.”
A labour activist criticised the decision, saying, “This shows intolerance and fear of exposure. In this digital age, banning phones in government offices is backward and unnecessary.”
As of press time, the FCT Administration had not issued any official statement addressing the policy or responding to the growing criticism.
