The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has banned staff of the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS) and the Department of Land Administration who are on Salary Grade Level 14 and below from bringing mobile phones into office premises, effective Wednesday, 12 November 2025.
An internal memo signed by AGIS Head Chijioke Nwankwoeze stated:
“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.”
Sources said the directive followed the circulation of videos showing Wike in a heated confrontation with a naval officer at a disputed property in Abuja.
One insider said the minister “was furious that the videos circulated among staff. He saw it as an act of sabotage.”
The phone ban has drawn criticism from workers and civil‑rights groups.
A labour activist described it as “primitive” and “draconian,” adding: “In 2025, banning phones in a public agency because of a viral video is absurd.”
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The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) also condemned Wike, praising the naval officer’s restraint and calling on President Bola Tinubu to caution the minister.
NANS President Comrade Atiku Isah said the group “will not sit idly by while those who served the nation in uniform are disrespected.”
Observers note that the ban raises concerns about workplace efficiency, as mobile devices are essential for coordination in government agencies.