There we were, in Abuja’s Gaduwa district on the morning of 11 November 2025 — a land of half-finished estates and hopeful developers. Into this quiet setting walked Barr. Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, with a team of officials on an inspection mission. On the other side stood a group of uniformed naval officers, claiming they acted on orders and had papers for a disputed plot of land allegedly linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff. Words were exchanged. Voices rose. A short video now loops across social media. The world watched. But the law must speak, and my people, I’m here to tell you what it says, in my opinon — so you don’t lose your house, your dignity, or your place in the queue of estate owners.
Minister Wike arrived at Plot 1946, Gaduwa, where purported military-personnel had already taken partial possession. The naval side said they had documents and were acting on behalf of the land interest; Hon. Minister Wike objected to what he called a “military takeover” and ordered a halt to the illegal development. Tension escalated to shouting, “You have no right to tell me to shut up,” said the naval commissioned officer. “I am not a fool,” retorted when he was so called by Hon. Minister Wike. Meanwhile, Wike’s own office claimed the land had been illegally acquired by the former naval chief and was being developed without approvals. Infact, the media aid to the Minister said the Ex-Naval Chief was scammed, and he used force in land dispute.
The scene was more than theatre. It raised questions about the powers of ministers, the rights of uniformed officers, and your own land — yes yours, whether you’re building a shop in Oshodi or dreaming of that Lagos suburb estate in Maya, Ikorodu.
Allow me to go into “the book.” Under the Armed Forces Act (Cap. A20 LFN 2004, formerly enacted in 1994) you’ll find the Navy, Army and Air Force recognised as services of the Federation. Section 1 says the Armed Forces “shall be charged with the defence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by land, sea and air and with such other duties as may be prescribed by the National Assembly.”
Crucially for our scenario, Section 55 and Section 56 deal with misconduct: Section 55 covers “fighting, quarrelling and disorderly behaviour” and Section 56 covers “disobedience to particular orders” or to standing orders. That means a uniformed officer has a legal obligation to discipline and order. Publicly arguing with a minister, or refusing lawful direction, walks a fine line. Yet it also means that a minister must act within law; he cannot simply assume immunity because he holds office and confront uniformed personnel in a high-handed way.
The Armed Forces Act therefore sets a standard of conduct for officers: they must obey lawful orders, maintain discipline, and cannot mis‐use the uniform as a club for land grabs. On the flip side, the minister must respect chain of command, civil-military protocol, and the rights of officers, especially when the officer is acting within lawful orders.
Let’s shift now to the land side of this story. The Land Use Act (1978) is the statute that changed how land is owned in Nigeria. Section 1 of the Act holds: “Subject to the provisions of this Act, all land comprised in the territory of each State of the Federation is hereby vested in the Governor of that State and such land shall be held in trust and administered for the use and common benefit of all Nigerians.” That means your title, your hope of buying land, your hut in a town — all these happen under a legal umbrella where the Governor (or in the case of Abuja, the President and FCT Minister acting for the Federal Government) holds the radical title.
Meanwhile, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 protects your right to acquire and own immovable property. Section 43 says: “Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, every citizen of Nigeria shall have the right to acquire and own immovable property anywhere in Nigeria.” But property rights do not override state regulation under the Land Use Act. So yes, you have rights — but rights under law, not above the law.
My people, if you bought land without proper documentation, you stand to lose. The minister’s action might be lawful revocation — but he cannot act arbitrarily.
In the FCT context, the Minister exercises functions delegated under this framework. But his power is not unlimited: he must act in the public interest, with proper process, respect for occupancy rights, serve notices, give compensation where due, and allow for appeals.
In Lagos, a somewhat similar clash took place in Magodo, where a CSP of the police confronted property developers under the watch of Governor Babajide Sanwo‑Olu. The difference? The confrontation in Lagos was relatively muted — the officer showed maximum respect to the governor, yet he stood his ground. The governor showed maximum decorum. In Abuja, what we saw on 11 November was public, heated, viral. The minister’s team claimed a land deal scam; military officers said they possessed documents and were acting on orders. This publicly visible breakdown of protocol sends a message — not just about land, but about how the state handles powerful interests and security agents.
From a legal standpoint, the minister can revoke land for over-riding public interest under the Land Use Act, but must follow process. If land was illegally acquired, yes, revocation is valid — but cannot justify forceful or unlawful entry, or public humiliation of an officer. Similarly, an officer cannot deploy uniformed strength and claim divine right in development matters without civil process. The contrasting tones show how Lagos still tries to keep the theatre backstage; Abuja put it on live stream. The message to the international community is not good when a serving uniformed officer publicly snaps, “I’m not a fool.” For a country already being called a “disgraced country” by a global leader, optics here matter.
My people, if you bought land without proper documentation, you stand to lose. The minister’s action might be lawful revocation — but he cannot act arbitrarily. Entry without consent, without court order, or without revocation notice is a breach of your right to peaceful enjoyment. The Land Use Act gives the state rights of occupancy, but not unlimited license to trespass. So, to claim “I am landlord therefore I may enter” is legally shaky.
Calling a uniformed officer names or publicly humiliated by a civil official damages morale. The Armed Forces Act sets standards; disrespect towards a commissioned officer by a civil agent raises issues of civil-military relations, discipline, respect.
What are the implications for the image of Nigeria? When the minister publicly clashes with the military, and the reason is land, investors see instability; global leaders see disrespect for protocol; citizens see powerful people storming lands with soldiers. In a time when Nigeria seeks respect on the global stage, every clash like this chips away at trust.
I suggest, in my view, the better way to resolve this matter is quiet protocol. The FCT Ministry should issue a formal revocation notice, if it for the overriding public interest, give public hearing, allow military interests to submit documentation, engage the relevant service chiefs, observe court orders where necessary. The uniformed officer should comply with landing development issues through commands, not public confrontation. The ministry and military should develop a MOLO (memorandum of land occupation) when officers or their associates are involved in real estate developments — to remove ambiguity.
And for we, the “bloody Nigerians”, if you buy land, check the Governor’s or FCT Minister’s certificate, ensure the Minister’s revocation powers are not already triggered, get certificate of occupancy, register title. Don’t rely on “top-top” connections, because law recognizes rights, not connections.
Yesterday in Abuja we did not just witness one more land show-down. What we saw was the intersection of land law, military law, property rights and public office. The FCT Minister has the power under the Land Use Act. The naval officer has the legal status under the Armed Forces Act. You as citizen have rights under the Constitution. But rights and powers are not absolute — they are bounded by process, by respect, by the rule of law. If Nigeria wants to be taken seriously, not as a “disgraced country”, then scenes like this must be handled with care, not spectacle. For your land, your citizenship, your neighbour’s shop — it matters. Justice must be transparent, power must be accountable, and law must govern, not men.
READ ALSO:
FOR THE RECORD: Editors, uphold highest standards of journalism -Tinubu
Sarafa Isola meets leaders of registered political parties in Ogun
FCT court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s trial to tomorrow for cross-examination of sixth witness
All set for Editors Conference in Abuja
DSS files charge against man for allegedly calling for coup
How insurance firms are competing with ‘African Insurance Incorporated’
OPC to Tinubu: Forge collaboration to defeat terrorism in Nigeria
