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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has stirred controversy after photos emerged of him attending the 2025 Asia Pacific Cities Summit and Mayors’ Forum in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, accompanied by his two sons, who were reportedly listed as part of the official Nigerian delegation.
The event, which brought together global city leaders, mayors, and policymakers to discuss urban development and sustainability, saw Wike representing Nigeria on behalf of the FCT Administration.
However, public outrage erupted after images of the minister and his sons, Jordan and Joaquin, wearing summit delegate tags, surfaced online.
Critics have questioned the propriety of including his sons in a government delegation, with many Nigerians on social media demanding clarification on whether public funds were used to sponsor their participation.
Wike was also photographed alongside the UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, during one of the sessions at the summit.
The development has sparked a wave of backlash, with opposition figures and civic groups calling for accountability and transparency from the FCT Ministry. They argued that such actions, if confirmed to be official, undermine the principles of merit and good governance.
In defence of his principal, Wike’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, took to social media to respond to the criticism: “When e reach your turn, carry your enemies travel. Hissssssssssssh.”
The post has since drawn mixed reactions, while some of Wike’s supporters saw it as a lighthearted response, others described it as dismissive and insensitive to public concerns about governance ethics.
As of press time, the FCT Administration had yet to issue an official statement clarifying the role or status of Wike’s sons at the summit, nor whether their expenses were personally funded by the minister or covered by public resources.
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