Abuja Protest Video Sparks Debate as FCTA Defends Wike
The Federal Capital Territory Administration has dismissed widespread online claims surrounding the Wike Abuja protest video, insisting that the Minister, Nyesom Wike, was not fleeing from demonstrators as suggested on social media. In a formal response issued on Monday, January 26, 2026, the administration clarified that a viral clip showing the Minister’s convoy moving at speed had been misrepresented.
According to the Director of Press to the Minister, Anthony Ogunleye, the footage was deliberately framed to inflame public sentiment amid ongoing labor tensions in Abuja. He explained that the clip was recorded during a routine inspection of major infrastructure projects and that the convoy’s movement followed standard security procedures for high profile officials, not an attempt to escape protesters.
Officials further stressed that no crowd obstructed the Minister’s movement and no confrontation occurred at the scene. The FCTA described the circulating narrative as politically motivated propaganda aimed at portraying the Minister as vulnerable at a time of heightened industrial action by organized labor unions.
Ogunleye noted that Wike has consistently engaged the public directly and has never avoided interaction, even during tense moments. While reaffirming respect for workers’ rights to protest, the administration warned against the spread of unverified content capable of triggering unrest.
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As legal proceedings between the FCTA and labor unions continue, the government says it remains focused on governance, infrastructure development, and lawful dialogue rather than social media speculation, assuring residents that Abuja remains secure and under firm administrative control.