The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has refuted online allegations claiming he awarded over 2,000 hectares of land in the Maitama and Asokoro areas of Abuja to his son.
The online report alleged that Wike had covertly allocated 2,082 hectares in the upscale districts of Asokoro and Maitama to his son. It referenced a Right of Occupancy supposedly issued to JOAQ Farms and Estate Limited, which it alleged was connected to Wike’s family. The report also suggested the agricultural land allocation was being used as a front for private enrichment.
In response, the Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, dismissed the report as “another falsehood from the vault of those whose main job is to malign the FCT Minister.”
In a statement released on Thursday, Olayinka clarified that “not even a single plot of land has been allocated to any of the Minister’s children.”
He criticized the report, attributing it to “quack journalists, who lacked basic training in journalism,” and questioned the plausibility of such a claim.
“In Asokoro and Maitama of today, where can the FCT Minister see 2,082 hectares of land to allocate to anyone? Only quack journalists will go to town with story of allocation of 2,082 hectares of land in Asokoro and Maitama, reason some of us have continually advocated for professionalism in journalism,” the statement noted.
Olayinka accused the publication of a smear campaign against Wike and emphasized that the Minister and his family, like any Nigerian citizen, are entitled to own land in the FCT—provided legal procedures are followed.
“My attention has been drawn to yet, another malicious falsehood coming from the same elements whose job is to defame and malign the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Even though it is the right of the Minister and members of his family, both immediate and extended, to own lands anywhere in Nigeria, including the FCT, provided all necessary conditions are met, no land has been allocated to any of his children.”
He added that the only supporting document referenced in the report was a Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) granted to JOAQ Farms and Estate Limited for farming purposes in the Bwari Area Council.
“In the publication, a Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) issued to JOAQ Farms and Estate Limited, for Agricultural purpose was the only evidence used to justify the claim. For the avoidance of doubt, JOAQ Farms and Estate Limited, a company duly registered in Nigeria, got land allocation in Bwari Area Council for the purpose of farming. So what’s is wrong with a farmer getting land allocation strictly for the purpose of agriculture?” he queried.
Olayinka concluded by labeling the report as entirely baseless and urged the public to ignore it, describing it as “false and should be disregarded.”