Nigerians, particularly residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have criticised the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for attending a summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), with his two sons.
Wike’s spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, shared photos of the minister alongside his sons and other officials at the 2025 Asia Pacific Cities Summit and Mayors’ Forum in Dubai. The images, posted on social media, were accompanied by a caption that read: “When e reach your turn, carry your enemies travel.”
The photos showed Wike’s sons wearing summit tags, suggesting they were part of the FCT Administration’s official delegation.
The official delegation, led by the minister, included the Senior Special Assistant to the Minister on Legal and Multilateral Cooperation, Barrister Benedict Daudu; the Acting Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr. Richard Yunana Dauda; the Director of the Department of Development and Control, Mukhtar Galadima; the Director of Engineering Services, Engr. Chuks Udeh; and the Director of Protocol, Sani Musa Daura, among others.
Social media platforms have been buzzing with reactions since the photos surfaced online.
Many X users described Wike’s action as “unfortunate” and “a display of nepotism,” accusing him of turning an official government trip into a family affair.
Others argued that the inclusion of his sons was inappropriate and undermined public confidence in governance.
Here are some of the comments posted by Nigerians on Lere Olayinka’s X handle:
Olawole wrote: “Mocking us to our faces using taxpayers’ money to sponsor your children abroad.”
