The office of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has firmly denied allegations that the Minister allocated 2,082 hectares of land in Maitama and Asokoro to one of his sons, describing the claim as a fabrication by “quack journalists” bent on tarnishing Wike’s image.
Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the FCT Minister, issued a statement on Thursday condemning the report as false and malicious.
“Not even a single plot of land has been allocated to any of the Minister’s children,” Olayinka declared. He questioned the credibility of the report and challenged its publishers to present concrete evidence of any land allocation bearing the name of any of Wike’s children.
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“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 such a ridiculous story. This is why some of us continue to advocate for professionalism in journalism,” the statement read.
Olayinka clarified that the publication in question cited a Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) granted to JOAQ Farms and Estate Limited as its only evidence. He explained that the company, which is legally registered in Nigeria, received land in Bwari Area Council strictly for agricultural purposes.
“For the avoidance of doubt, JOAQ Farms and Estate Limited got land allocation for farming in Bwari, not Maitama or Asokoro, and not for any minister’s son,” he added. “What’s wrong with a registered farming company receiving land for agriculture?”
While affirming that it is within the legal rights of the Minister and his family members to own property anywhere in the country provided due process is followed, Olayinka reiterated that no land has been allocated to any of Wike’s children.
He concluded by urging the public to disregard the publication, branding it a smear campaign rooted in bitterness and lacking factual merit.
