Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),  on Tuesday declared that the landscape of Abuja would be completely transformed before the end of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s first term in office.

Speaking at the flag-off of the construction of the southern parkway service carriageways in Gaduwa district, Abuja, Wike said ongoing infrastructure projects in the nation’s capital would not be abandoned because of the approaching election season.

The minisrer reaffirmed the commitment of the FCT administration to sustaining the ongoing infrastructure revolution across the city.

Nentawe Yilwatda, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), flagged off the project.

“Let me say clearly, by the time Mr. President finishes his first tenure on May 29, 2027, before he is sworn in as President for a second tenure, the landscape of Abuja would have entirely changed, to the glory of God,” Wike said.

Addressing concerns that the administration might slow down project execution ahead of the 2027 elections, Wike dismissed such fears, stressing that development of the FCT would continue unabated.

“Today is our 10th day of commissioning projects, but today was specifically selected because so many people have been asking questions,” he said.

“‘Are you saying that after commissioning all these projects, now that we are going into elections, projects will be abandoned?’ We said no.

“Elections or no elections, we must continue to do that which Mr. President has directed to make sure that we change the landscape of the Federal Capital Territory.”

The minister added that he had personally contacted the management of CGC Nigeria Limited late Monday night to ascertain the timeline for completing the Southern Parkway project.

According to him, the contractor assured him of its readiness to work round the clock to deliver the project within schedule, provided the FCT Administration fulfills its financial obligations.

“Last night, around midnight, I called the Deputy Managing Director of CGC and asked when this project would be completed,” he said.

“After consulting his team, he assured me they would work day and night to complete it if we perform our own obligation.

“Today, June 23, 2026, I assure the management and workers of CGC that we will not fail in our obligation of paying for the work done.

“This is not the first time we are giving you challenging jobs and you have performed excellently.”

The minister expressed confidence that the project would be completed and commissioned before the January 2027 elections.

“I want this road commissioned before we go for election in January 2027. Here in Abuja, it is possible. We shall call the APC Chairman back to represent Mr. President and commission this project because it is very important to us,” he added.

The minister further vowed to intensify the crackdown on land grabbers and individuals developing lands without valid allocations, describing the trend as a major threat to the Abuja Master Plan.

“All these land grabbers who have started developing lands that were not allocated to them should know that those structures will go down. Heaven will not fall. Heaven will be at peace when things are done properly.

“We have discovered that whenever government wants to execute projects, some people rush to such locations with forged documents and begin illegal developments. It will not work,” he warned.

Wike directed the development control department and the department of lands to identify and remove all illegal structures along the project corridor.

“Tell the acting director of development control to liaise with the director of lands and ensure that anybody who has started building on land not legally allocated should stop. It is in vain. We will bring such structures down,” he declared.

The southern parkway service carriageways project is expected to improve connectivity within Abuja’s southern development corridor, reduce traffic congestion and support the rapid expansion of residential and commercial districts within the FCT.

The event was attended by senior government officials, traditional rulers, community leaders, political stakeholders and representatives of the contracting firm, CGC Nigeria Limited.

The post Wike: Abuja’s landscape will change completely before end of Tinubu’s first term first appeared on The Times of Abuja.

This follows a convention being planned for Saturday, May 30 in Abuja by the Kabiru Turaki-led faction of the PDP to affirm Jonathan’s candidacy.

In a statement issued on Friday, Jungudo Mohammed, national publicity secretary of the PDP faction, described the planned exercise as unauthorised and misleading.

Mohammed said the party had not scheduled, approved or endorsed any convention, meeting or process for the affirmation of Jonathan’s candidacy.

He urged party members, supporters and the public to disregard reports about the planned event, saying they were intended to create confusion within the polity.

According to him, the former president should also publicly distance himself from the planned exercise to protect the integrity of the democratic process and preserve the credibility he earned while serving the country.

“The party urges former President Goodluck Jonathan to publicly dissociate himself from this charade in order to protect the integrity of the democratic process and preserve the credibility he earned while serving the nation,” the statement reads.

Mohammed further called on security agencies to investigate the source of the reports and take appropriate action against those behind them.

According to him, all primary elections, including governorship, state assembly, national assembly and presidential primaries, had already been concluded in line with the Electoral Act, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines and the party’s constitution.

Meanwhile, the Turaki-led faction of the PDP has alleged intimidation ahead of the planned convention.

In a statement signed by Ini Ememobong, the faction’s national publicity secretary, the group accused the FCT minister of threatening to shut down the venue for the event.

The faction claimed that the management of A Class Event Centre in Wuse 2, Abuja, the venue of the event, informed it of alleged threats from the FCT minister over the planned gathering.

According to the statement, the venue had been fully paid for, and security agencies had already been notified about the convention.

The group said its lawyers had been directed to remind the management of the event centre of the contractual agreement reached with the organisers.

Despite the alleged intimidation, the faction insisted that the convention would proceed as scheduled on Saturday, May 30, at the A Class Event Centre in Abuja.

The group also criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration, alleging that actions by some government officials were beginning to portray authoritarian tendencies.

It added that the FCT minister had no legal authority to determine which political events should hold or where they should take place.

The post Wike-backed PDP faction disowns planned convention to affirm Jonathan as 2027 presidential candidate first appeared on The Times of Abuja.

Wike spoke on Thursday while responding to Abubakar’s criticism of the current administration, in which the former vice-president said the government had not delivered meaningful progress for Nigerians.

Speaking during an inspection tour of ongoing road projects in Abuja, the minister said developments across the capital city contradict such claims, adding that the FCT is undergoing visible transformation.

“Atiku is a serial failure. He is a serial contestant and loser, and I am sure that in 2031, he will still contest,” Wike said.

“Nigerians would be laughing at such a person making that kind of statement that nothing positive has been done.”

Wike challenged Abubakar to compare the current state of the FCT with what obtained during his time in public office, insisting that the difference is evident.

He maintained that governance must continue despite political distractions, adding that ongoing projects would not be affected by the election season.

“The election will come, but people must work. Contractors are not part of the election,” he said.

Wike also dismissed allegations by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) that the FCT administration attempted to frustrate its convention by targeting the Rainbow Event Centre.

The minister said he was unaware of any such venue and denied any interference in the party’s activities, urging those making the claims to provide evidence.

The post Wike: Atiku is a serial contestant, loser… he’ll still contest in 2031 first appeared on The Times of Abuja.

Truth Watch is a public interest column dedicated to exposing false claims, spotlighting ethical concerns in journalism, and equipping the public with tools to navigate today’s fast-changing information landscape.    

The feature is part of a wider effort to strengthen truth and accountability in media.

TOP FALSE CLAIMS OF THE WEEK

On 21 February 2026, as residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) went to the polls for the area council elections, misinformation moved almost as quickly as voters.

Social media platforms filled with alarming claims, many designed to provoke outrage or cast doubt on the credibility of the process.

One widely circulated video alleged that Nyesom Wike, the FCT minister, was distributing food to voters as inducement ahead of the election.

The footage spread rapidly across X, Facebook, and WhatsApp, framed as proof of electoral compromise. However, verification through reverse video analysis traced the clip to a 2023 political gathering, unrelated to the 2026 council elections. The recycled footage was repackaged without context to inflame political tensions.

Another viral claim asserted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmanship candidates in Gwagwalada had withdrawn from the race hours before voting commenced on 21 February.

Screenshots of purported withdrawal letters circulated online. Yet checks with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed that both candidates remained valid on the ballot. Election observers and accredited reporters reported no official withdrawal notices. The documents shared online showed formatting inconsistencies and lacked institutional authentication.

These episodes reveal a recurring pattern: recycled visuals, fabricated documents, and borrowed institutional names deployed to manufacture credibility. In moments of civic importance, misinformation does not merely mislead, it can strain democratic trust.

Media Ethics Spotlight

HEADLINE INFLATION IN POLITICAL AND LEGAL REPORTING RAISES ETHICAL CONCERNS

Nigeria’s media landscape moves at a rapid pace. Newsrooms compete for attention in crowded digital spaces, where headlines often determine whether a story is read at all.

In that race, a troubling pattern has emerged: headline inflation. Political and legal stories increasingly carry language that outpaces the facts. A routine court appearance becomes a “landmark ruling.” A regulatory inquiry turns into a “major crackdown.” A procedural clarification is framed as a “dramatic reversal.”

Editors may defend such framing as competitive necessity. It attracts clicks. It drives engagement. It positions the outlet as decisive. Yet the cost is subtle but significant. Many readers consume only the headline. When that headline exaggerates or presents interpretation as settled fact, it shapes public perception before the evidence speaks.

Legal reporting demands particular discipline. Courts operate through stages — filings, adjournments, interim orders, procedural directives. When these are compressed into sweeping declarations, audiences misunderstand what has actually happened. The result is confusion, heightened political tension, and, at times, reputational damage that lingers long after clarification appears.

This is not merely a stylistic issue; it is an ethical one. Journalism must summarise faithfully, not sensationalise selectively. Accuracy begins at the top of the page.

Tool of the Week

THE HEADLINE AUDIT TEST

Headlines shape perception. In political and legal reporting, they often travel faster than the full story. This week, apply the Headline Audit Test before reacting or sharing.

Start by comparing the headline with the body of the article. Does it accurately reflect the substance of the report, or does it exaggerate the outcome? If the headline sounds dramatic but the article reveals procedural nuance, inflation may be at work.

Examine the verbs. Words such as “orders,” “nullifies,” “approves,” or “bans” carry legal weight. Responsible reporting anchors such language in direct quotations from court rulings, official documents, or named sources. If certainty appears in the headline without documentary backing in the story, question it.

Then look for context. Courts and policy processes unfold in stages — filings, adjournments, clarifications, interim decisions. When a headline compresses these into sweeping declarations, it simplifies reality for impact.

Read beyond the banner. Scrutinise before you amplify. Sensational framing thrives on speed; accuracy survives on discipline.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Journalism serves democracy not just by reporting events, but by questioning them. The ethical line is crossed when opinion is presented as fact. Credibility depends on clearly showing where evidence ends and interpretation begins.” — Dr. Kayode Olanorin, Media Ethics Specialist

The post Fact Check: Did Wike share food to voters before FCT council elections? first appeared on The Times of Abuja.

Wike spoke on Saturday in Port Harcourt during the inauguration of the Rivers state renewed hope Ambassadors’ headquarters.

The facility houses Majority FM 89.5, a situation room, office facilities and operational buses for the group.

The former Rivers governor commended Desmond Akawor, coordinator of the Rivers state renewed hope ambassadors, for what he described as an effective mobilisation drive across the state.

Wike said Rivers would work “massively” for Tinubu’s re-election.

“Desmond Akawor, you have shown enough capacity to mobilise. You have moved to all the nooks and crannies of Rivers to talk about Tinubu for president in 2027,” he said.

Wike declared that the state was firmly behind the president, adding that his political structure was already fully in place across the 23 local government areas.

“I have said before that Rivers state is a no-go area, and I want to say it again — this state is totally for Tinubu. We have made sure that all the 23 local governments and zonal coordinators were inaugurated,” he said.

The FCT minister said the inauguration of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors’ secretariat and vehicles showed the group’s readiness to mobilise for the president.

“I challenge anybody — let them come to Rivers state and learn. Our commitment is not by mouth, our commitment is not by newspaper. Ours is by showing that we are working for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Wike said.

He insisted that his political camp already had enough structures and leaders to mobilise support for the president without relying on a sitting governor.

“We don’t need to have a governor to mobilise for Mr President. We have all it takes. We have senators, assembly members, council chairmen, National Assembly members and party chairmen of APC and PDP,” he said.

Wike added that his group had collectively resolved to continue supporting Tinubu in 2027 if the president seeks re-election.

“In 2023, we took a decision without anybody pressuring us, and to the glory of God, that decision is what we are enjoying today. And whether anybody likes it or not, in 2027, when the president shows interest, we have no choice than to continue to support Mr President,” he said.

He also urged the renewed Hope ambassadors’ leadership to begin the inauguration of ward and unit coordinators across the state.

“We must take it down to the units to talk to our people to continue to support Mr President. We are battle ready,” he added.

Earlier, Akawor said the movement had established structures in all the 23 local government areas of the state.

He praised Wike for providing leadership for the group, describing his political style as “AI politics”.

The post Wike: We don’t need a governor to mobilise support for Tinubu in Rivers first appeared on The Times of Abuja.

The protest followed a directive by the NLC declaring full support for the industrial action, which it described as justified in response to what it called persistent violations of workers’ rights by the FCTA management and political leadership.

The striking workers are demanding the removal of Nyesom Wike, the FCT minister, alongside the resolution of outstanding labour-related grievances.

The NLC said the action would continue until the demands of the workers are addressed, warning that failure to do so could further disrupt administrative activities within the FCT.

BACKGROUND

Last Monday, offices across the FCTA and the FCDA were under lock and key as workers commenced an indefinite strike over “unmet demands” by the federal government.

The strike crippled activities across all FCTA secretariats, departments, agencies, area councils, and parastatals.

The strike followed a directive by the Joint Union Action Congress (JUAC) ordering workers across all cadres of the administration to withdraw their services from Monday, January 19, 2026.

The directive was contained in a statement dated January 8 and signed by JUAC President, Rifkatu Iortyer, and Secretary, Abdullahi Saleh.

According to the unions, an ultimatum issued on January 7 expired without any meaningful engagement from management.

JUAC listed its grievances to include the non-payment of outstanding promotion arrears, delays in the conduct and release of promotion exercises, and the continued extension of service for retired directors and permanent secretaries — a practice the unions said was stalling career progression for serving officers.

The post NLC, FCTA workers protest at industrial court, demand Wike’s removal first appeared on The Times of Abuja.

The petition was submitted under the auspices of the Conscience of Ogoni People (COOP), formerly known as Ken Saro-Wiwa Associates, a group of Ogoni leaders and professionals advocating peace, justice, and stability in the area.

In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by its leader and spokesperson, Gani Topba, COOP expressed strong support for the federal government–Ogoni dialogue and peace process being facilitated by Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser (NSA).

The group, however, accused Wike of engaging in what it described as calculated efforts to undermine the dialogue, alleging that the actions date back to his tenure as governor of Rivers state.

COOP linked the alleged interference to a long-running compensation dispute involving the Ejama Ebubu community and the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) over environmental degradation claims, which the community won through litigation.

According to the group, the Rivers state government under Wike became deeply involved in the dispute, which has remained controversial in public discourse.

The group further cited developments during Ribadu’s recent visit to Ogoniland, alleging that political associates of the FCT minister were directed to boycott and undermine the engagement with communities.

COOP also claimed that armed youths were allegedly recruited from different parts of Rivers state and camped around the Rivers state house of assembly quarters, warning that such actions pose a serious threat to public peace and security.

The group alleged that Wike is unhappy with Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, for cooperating with the NSA to ensure the success of the dialogue process.

“Our information is that after the NSA left Rivers state, the minister directed chairmen of the local government areas in Ogoniland, Eleme, Tai, Gokana and Khana, to recruit armed youths to cause security breaches and frustrate the dialogue and eventual resumption of oil operations,” the statement reads.

COOP warned that if unchecked, the alleged actions could derail the fragile peace process, trigger violence, and undermine efforts to resume oil production in Ogoniland.

The group said the current dialogue has been widely welcomed by Ogoni people as the most sincere and inclusive effort so far, with prospects for lasting peace, environmental remediation, economic reintegration, and the safe resumption of oil production in OML II.

COOP appealed to Tinubu to protect the dialogue process, direct security agencies to investigate the allegations, and prevent actions capable of destabilising Rivers state.

“Ogoni people are tired of conflict, manipulation, and being used as pawns in political and economic struggles,” the group said.

It expressed confidence that presidential intervention would safeguard peace and reaffirm the federal government’s commitment to justice, national unity, and economic recovery.

The post Ogoni leaders write Tinubu over alleged moves by Wike to sabotage peace dialogue first appeared on The Times of Abuja.

In a statement on Monday, Lere Olayinka, media aide to Nyesom Wike, FCT minister, said workers under various unions, such as the Law Officers Association of Nigeria, have dissociated themselves from the strike action.

Olayinka noted that such workers deserve the right to be allowed access to their offices to perform their duties.

This follows an indefinite strike commenced on Monday by workers under the FCTA and Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) after a directive by the Joint Union Action Congress (JUAC) over unmet demands.

The union ordered workers across all cadres of the administration to withdraw their services from Monday, January 19, 2026.

However, the minister’s spokesperson said the Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital Territory (ARD-FCTA), has written Wike to thank him for “his exemplary leadership and commitment to the welfare of healthcare workers, as demonstrated by the payment of the longstanding 13-month hazard allowance arrears as well as the payment of a one-month wage award.”

He added that top officials of the FCTA have held several meetings with union leaders, including on Saturday and Sunday.

He said in one of the meetings held with JUAC leaders on Friday, January 16, the demands as well as Wike’s interventions were laid bare, noting that at no point did the minister express unwillingness to address any of the demands.

“Appeal was made to JUAC officials that other pending issues were not severe enough to warrant the declaration of strike action and that dialogue should be adopted in resolving all other issues affecting staff welfare in the FCTA,” Olayinka said.

“For instance, one of the demands made was non-payment of the outstanding five-month wage award, payment of which has commenced. Also, the outstanding 13 months of hazard allowance and 22 months of rural allowance for health workers have been fully paid by the administration.

“The workers also listed non-payment of 2023 promotion arrears and outstanding 2024 promotion arrears as part of their demands. Meanwhile, the outstanding arrears in the sum of N286,166,772.46, covering 724 officers across 24 SDAs, were approved by the minister in December 2025 and are being processed for payment to the beneficiaries.

“On elongation of tenure of retired directors and permanent secretaries in violation of the public service rules, this has been resolved with the minister assuring the workers of strict compliance with the public service rules.

“JUAC also raised the issue of lack of training and retraining of staff, and on this, all SDAs have been directed to forward general and specialised training needs to the Permanent Secretary, Common Services, for onwards submission to the office of the Head of Service for further necessary action.

“Another issue is non-remittance of National Housing Fund (NHF) deductions and pension contributions since May 2025, which is the function of workers themselves and has nothing to do with the minister or the FCTA management.

“The Head of Service has therefore constituted a committee comprising the workers to holistically address all issues relating to all deductions and remittances.

“On the claim of a defective promotion examination process with a pass rate of about 22.5 percent, it was pointed out that the figures and percentage presented by JUAC had no official backing, and they were therefore advised to await the formal release of the results of the promotion examinations as directed by the Minister.

“Also, the issue of overstay of Overseeing Directors has been reasonably addressed by the conduct of the 2023 promotion for eligible Deputy Directors, while the release of the just-concluded 2024 staff promotion by the FCT Civil Service Commission will conclusively address the matter.

“In all, it can be seen that the FCT Minister has made concerted efforts to address the demands of the workers, and he will continue to accord them top priority.

“From all indications, therefore, and considering all the efforts already made by the Minister in acceding to almost all the demands, as well as explanations by the FCTA management staff in the meetings held, the strike action embarked on by JUAC is unnecessary, ill-motivated and obviously aimed at achieving purposes other than the welfare of the workers.”

According to him, the FCTA has urged security agencies to ensure that workers who have opted not to be part of the strike should have access to their offices so as to carry out their lawful duties unhindered.

The post FCTA: 10 of 14 workers’ demands met, others being addressed first appeared on The Times of Abuja.

The promotion follows the examinations held from Tuesday, November 25, to Saturday, November 29, 2025, for the affected workers.

In a statement on Wednesday, Lere Olayinka, media aide to the minister, quoted Emeka Ezeh, chairman of the FCT Civil Service Commission, as having said that the over 2,000 civil servants cut across 165 cadres.

He described the promotion as a clear demonstration of the FCT minister’s commitment to staff welfare and career progression, promising that promotion examinations will be conducted as and when due.

Ezeh urged civil servants to begin early preparation for the 2025 and 2026 promotions, saying, “As only diligent and hard-working staff will be promoted.”

He reiterated that the commission would continue to conduct promotion examinations, using the computer-based test (CBT).

He added that the promotion will deepen the newly introduced digital platform for promotion examinations that was approved by the FCT minister.

The post Wike approves promotion of over 2,000 FCTA, FCDA workers first appeared on The Times of Abuja.

Wike spoke during a thank you visit to the people of Khana in Bori, Khana LGA of Rivers.

The minister said leaders are elected to represent the will of the people and not for personal agendas.

“We will not make the same mistake again at the state level in 2027, but we will talk about it later when the time comes,” he said.

“Just follow your leaders. Anywhere you see them going, that is where we are going.”

Wike said he was not in the community for politics but for a visit to thank the people of Khana for standing with him and President Bola Tinubu.

He noted that the people of Khana risked all and supported Tinubu in 2023 when others were afraid to do so.

“During the turbulent period, Khana stood with us, and now you have benefited, from good roads to the University of Environment, among other benefits, because of the love of Mr President,” he said.

“So many appointments have come to Ogoniland, and more are coming.”

The minister pointed out that the Rivers people will no longer vote based on party but based on family for the development of the state under Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.

The post Rivers: We ‘ll correct leadership mistake in 2027  first appeared on The Times of Abuja.