The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has categorically denied allegations that he allocated over 2,000 hectares of prime Abuja land to one of his sons.
The allegations, which circulated through an online publication, claimed that the minister had secretly granted 2,082 hectares of land situated in the highly exclusive districts of Asokoro and Maitama to a company allegedly linked to his family.
The report referenced a Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) purportedly issued in the name of JOAQ Farms and Estate Limited. The company was portrayed as a front for personal enrichment under the guise of agricultural development.
However, in a firm rebuttal on Thursday, Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, dismissed the story as entirely false and a deliberate attempt to tarnish the image of the FCT Minister.
According to Olayinka, not a single plot of land has been allocated to any of Wike’s children. He labeled the report “another falsehood from the vault of those whose main job is to malign the FCT Minister,” and questioned the feasibility of allocating such a large expanse of land in districts like Maitama and Asokoro. “In Asokoro and Maitama of today, where can the FCT Minister see 2,082 hectares of land to allocate to anyone?” he asked rhetorically.
The statement went on to challenge the credibility of the publication and its authors, describing them as “quack journalists” lacking journalistic training and ethics. Olayinka also accused the unnamed publisher of engaging in a campaign of defamation against Wike, noting that the story was both illogical and unfounded.
He further clarified that while it is well within the legal rights of any Nigerian—including Wike and his family—to own land in the FCT, such ownership must follow due process. In this case, Olayinka maintained, no land allocation had been made to any of Wike’s children.
Referring specifically to JOAQ Farms and Estate Limited, Olayinka confirmed that the company received a legitimate land allocation in Bwari Area Council for agricultural use—not in Maitama or Asokoro, as alleged. “So what’s wrong with a farmer getting land allocation strictly for the purpose of agriculture?” he queried.
The statement ended with a strong condemnation of the publication and its allegations, urging the public to disregard the report in its entirety. “The entire narrative is false and should be disregarded,” Olayinka concluded.
What You Should Know
The alleged 2,082-hectare land allocation scandal targeting Nyesom Wike and his family has been firmly denied by the FCT Minister’s office. Officials insist the land in question was allocated to a registered agricultural company in Bwari—not the upscale Maitama or Asokoro districts.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about media credibility, land administration, and political smear tactics in the FCT.
