The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has denied claims circulating online that he allocated over 2,000 hectares of land in Maitama and Asokoro districts to one of his sons.
The news, which began spreading across various online platforms, alleged that Wike secretly gave out a large area of land—2,082 hectares—in Abuja’s prime districts, Maitama and Asokoro.
The publication mentioned a Right of Occupancy said to have been issued in the name of JOAQ Farms and Estate Limited, a company which the report tried to link to Wike’s family.
The report suggested that although the land was marked for farming purposes, it was being used as a cover for personal benefits. However, the Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, firmly denied the report, calling it false and misleading.
Olayinka, in a public statement issued on Thursday, stated, “Not even a single plot of land has been allocated to any of the Minister’s children.” He called the allegations baseless and said they were part of a smear campaign led by individuals who spread lies for political or personal reasons.
He also questioned the report’s logic, pointing out that it was nearly impossible to find that amount of land—over 2,000 hectares—in Maitama and Asokoro today. According to him, such claims could only be believed by those who are unaware of how land distribution works in the FCT.
“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 read.
Olayinka further noted that the publication used a Right of Occupancy granted to JOAQ Farms and Estate Limited as its main evidence. He clarified that the land was given in Bwari Area Council for agricultural use, and that there was nothing wrong with a registered farming company receiving such an allocation.
“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.
He also made it clear that the Minister and his family, like all Nigerians, have the right to own land in any part of the country, as long as legal procedures are followed. Yet, no such land has been assigned to any of Wike’s children.
Olayinka ended by saying that the entire report was “false and should be disregarded,” while calling on the public to be cautious about believing unverified stories.
