Nyesom Wike is under fire over claims he gave his son Abuja land worth $3.6 billion.
The alleged secret allocations in prime districts have sparked outrage and calls for a probe.
UPDATE: Wike’s Aide Dismisses Allegation of Land Allocation to Minister’s Son
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, is facing growing criticism following claims that he allocated over 2,000 hectares of valuable land in Abuja to his son, Joaquin Wike. The land, situated in some of the capital’s most upscale areas, is reportedly worth around $3.6 billion.
A recent investigation revealed that the land parcels are spread across key districts including Maitama, Asokoro, and Guzape. Documents obtained from within the FCT administration suggest that the allocations were made in ways that conflict with the principles of transparency and public accountability.
This controversy resurfaces months after Wike had publicly denied similar accusations. During the 2024 Christmas period, he brushed off claims that he was manipulating dormant land allocations for personal benefit. At the time, he challenged the public to provide proof of misconduct. However, newly surfaced records now cast doubt on his previous statements and have prompted fresh calls for scrutiny.
Although Nigerian land laws do not directly bar a minister from assigning land to relatives, ethical guidelines, particularly those in the Fifth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution, clearly forbid public officials from exploiting their positions for personal benefit.
Two senior FCT officials, described the land transfers to Joaquin Wike as excessive and a clear misuse of public office. They noted that the usual payments for ground rent, survey fees, and title registration were missing from the files reviewed.
Certificates of occupancy examined by the outlet reportedly show that Joaquin now holds legal titles to land equal to about 40,000 plots. In high-value zones like Maitama and Asokoro, where a single plot can fetch between $1.2 million and $1.4 million, the potential market value of the land is enormous.
The allegations have sparked concerns among citizens and civil society groups, who say the development reflects deep-rooted issues of corruption and impunity within government institutions. There are growing calls for an independent probe into the land deals and the role of the FCT administration in approving them.
