Wike denies allocating Abuja land to sons, dismisses allegations as false

By Kunle Sanni –

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has denied allegations that he allocated thousands of hectares of prime Abuja land to his sons, describing the claims as politically motivated and entirely false.

Wike addressed the issue during a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, stating that the online reports were part of a coordinated smear campaign allegedly originating from Adamawa State. He affirmed that his children, like any other Nigerian citizens, are entitled to apply for land as long as due process is followed.

“Assuming, though not conceding, my children applied for land—are they not citizens? Are they Ghanaians? Even if they applied, are they not entitled because I’m the minister?” Wike queried.

Online reports had alleged that the minister allocated 2,082 hectares in Maitama to one of his sons via JOAQ Farms and Estates Limited and another 1,740 hectares in Asokoro to his second son, Jordan—amounting to 3,822 hectares reportedly valued at $6.45 billion.

Wike, however, dismissed the accusations as baseless, challenging those behind the claims to provide verifiable documentation. He also questioned the practicality of finding such vast tracts of land in Maitama and Asokoro, two of Abuja’s most developed and built-up areas.

“First, calculate the land in Maitama and Asokoro and tell me where you’d get 2,000 hectares. The whole thing is rubbish,” he stated. “Bring the documents. Bring empirical evidence.”

He reiterated his administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability and warned against politicising land administration in the FCT.

Wike concluded by urging the public not to be misled by false narratives aimed at undermining the reforms currently underway in the territory’s land management process.