Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has responded to public scrutiny over photos of his sons accompanying him on official trips, insisting that there is no law prohibiting them from travelling with him.
Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, made the comments during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday.
He argued that bringing his sons along was a matter of providing exposure to governance and official functions.
“What law says that my sons shouldn’t travel? Let the FCT say where they paid N1. What official matter? Did they sign any document? It doesn’t need to be a personal trip. What’s wrong?” Wike questioned.
The minister added that his sons, both holders of master’s degrees, benefited from first-hand exposure to government operations.
“Oh, come on, they have to know how Nigeria is. They have to learn about government,” he said.
When asked if he was grooming them for political careers, Wike clarified that they were pursuing diverse professional paths.
His eldest son, a lawyer, has chosen farming over legal practice, while his second son, an economics graduate from King’s College, is interested in real estate.
“They’ve gone for training in Spain. They’ve gone for training in Lisbon,” Wike noted.
The minister also praised his children for their responsible behaviour, noting that they give him comfort rather than cause concern.
“I’m so happy that I have children who have given me comfort, who have not given me problems.
”Assuming they were somewhere smoking, you would have said, ‘Oh, look at these children now. Who are they? I will not travel with my enemy’s children,” he added.
Wike has been photographed with his sons at several official events, including project commissioning in the Federal Capital Territory and, more recently, at the 2025 Asia Pacific Cities Summit in Dubai, which drew criticism from some Nigerians.
His explanation underscored the minister’s position that accompanying family members on official trips for educational and exposure purposes is within his discretion, provided there is no legal restriction or misuse of public resources.
