An aide to the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike has denied reports that the former Rivers governor allocated 2,082 hectares of Abuja land to his son.
The minister’s spokesman Lere Olayinka made the denial in a statement on Thursday following allegations that the land, said to be in Maitama and Asokoro, was worth billions of naira.
“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,” he wrote.
Olayinka described the claim as laughable, adding that the land size in question does not even exist in those highbrow areas.
“In Asokoro and Maitama of today, where can the FCT minister see 2,082 hectares of land to allocate to anyone?” he asked.
“Even though it is the right of the minister and members of his family, as Nigerians, to own lands anywhere in Nigeria, no land has been allocated to any of his children,” he added.
Olayinka clarified that the only land mentioned was allocated to JOAQ Farms and Estate Limited and not to any of Wike’s children. According to him, the land is located in Bwari and was allocated for agricultural purposes.
“So what is wrong with a farmer getting land allocation strictly for agriculture?” he queried.
He added, “Therefore, the publication claiming that the FCT minister allocated 2,082 hectares of land to his son is false and should be disregarded.”
The allegation was published by Sahara Reporters which claimed that the land was allocated to Wike’s son Joaquin. No document has been produced to substantiate the claim.
Wike, who assumed office as FCT minister in August 2023, has repeatedly promised to sanitise land allocation in Abuja and ensure transparency in the process.