The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has banned 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 Wednesday, November 12, 2025, applies to officers on Grade Level 14 and below, barring them 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 memo has stirred controversy within the civil service, drawing criticism from staff and activists.
The decision came shortly after videos of Wike’s heated confrontation with a Naval officer at a disputed Abuja property went viral on social media.
Sources within AGIS revealed that Wike was angered by how widely the footage circulated among staff WhatsApp groups, seeing it as an act of “sabotage.” One source said the minister felt “betrayed” by the leak, which intensified his decision to tighten internal information control.
Civil rights advocates have described the policy as “authoritarian and outdated,” accusing Wike of clamping down on transparency in public institutions. A labour activist criticized the order, saying it “shows intolerance and fear of exposure. In this digital age, banning phones is backward and unnecessary.”
As of press time, the FCT Administration has not issued a public statement explaining the ban or addressing the growing backlash.
