Media aide to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, Lere Olayinka, has refuted claims suggesting that the minister fled from protesting workers in Abuja on Monday, the 26th of January, 2026.
The incident, which was captured on video and circulated widely on social media, showed a convoy reportedly being pursued by FCTA workers who had embarked on a strike to press for unresolved demands within the administration.
Clarifying the situation, Olayinka stated that the minister did not run from the aggrieved workers. Instead, Wike opted for an alternative route after protesters had blocked the main entrance.
Speaking to Arise TV on Tuesday, the 27th of January, 2026, Olayinka emphasized, “The minister was not running away from anything. The entrance of the secretariat was barricaded by the protesters, and instead of instructing security to clear them, he chose to use a different exit from the Ministry of Agriculture so that he could make his way to the airport, where he was supposed to see the President off.”
READ ALSO: VIDEO: Angry FCTA Workers Protest, Chase Wike’s Convoy After Exit Through Back Gate
The explanation comes just a day after workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, supported by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), appeared at the National Industrial Court in Abuja. The workers’ appearance was part of a total and indefinite strike that remains ongoing due to unresolved labor disputes.
The NLC has expressed full backing for the strike, describing it as justified and a necessary response to what it termed persistent violations of workers’ rights by the FCTA management and political leadership.
The viral video that sparked the claims showed disgruntled workers pursuing a vehicle alleged to be carrying Wike, chanting slogans, and making their grievances known.