The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, has denied reports alleging he allocated over 2,000 hectares of land in the highbrow districts of Maitama and Asokoro to his son.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and New Media, Mr. Lere Olayinka, described the claim as “baseless, malicious, and a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.”
According to the statement, no land—whether in Maitama, Asokoro, or elsewhere within the FCT—has been allocated to any of the Minister’s children.
“There is absolutely no truth in the report. It is part of an ongoing smear campaign being waged by individuals who are determined to discredit the Minister at all costs,” Olayinka said.
He questioned the credibility of those behind the report, describing them as “quack journalists lacking professional standards,” and challenged them to present verifiable evidence.
“Where in Maitama or Asokoro can one even find 2,082 hectares of unallocated land?” he asked. “The figures alone make the story questionable. This is why professionalism in journalism remains critical.”
Olayinka clarified that the only land mentioned in the reports was allocated to JOAQ Farms and Estate Limited, a registered agricultural firm, for farming purposes in Bwari Area Council—not in Maitama or Asokoro as alleged.
He further stated that even if members of the Minister’s family chose to legally acquire land in the FCT, they are entitled to do so like any other Nigerian citizen, provided the proper procedures are followed.
“For the record, no allocation has been made to any of the Minister’s children. The only allocation referenced is to a company that applied for and was granted land in Bwari strictly for agricultural use,” the statement added.
The Minister’s media aide urged members of the public to disregard the report, calling it a calculated attempt to distract from the ongoing reforms and infrastructure projects being implemented across the FCT under Wike’s leadership.
