The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has responded to a viral report alleging that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, allocated over 2,000 hectares of land to one of his sons in the highbrow areas of Maitama and Asokoro.
Describing the claim as baseless and malicious, Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister, in a statement on Thursday, dismissed the report as nothing more than “another falsehood from the vault of those whose main job is to malign the FCT Minister.”;
Olayinka didn’t mince words in his response, calling out the authors of the report as “quack journalists”; peddling fabricated stories.
“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 story of allocation of 2,082 hectares of land in Asokoro and Maitama, reason some of us have continually advocated for professionalism in journalism,”; he said.
He emphasized that not even a single plot had been allocated to any of Wike’s children and challenged the publishers to present proof if they had any.
“The publication, claiming that the FCT Minister allocated 2,082 hectares of land to his son, is false and should be disregarded,”; the statement read.
Olayinka acknowledged the public’s right to scrutinize leaders but stressed the importance of fact-based reporting.
“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.
He added, “Even though it is the right of the Minister and members of his family, both immediate and extended to own lands anywhere in Nigeria, including the FCT, provided all necessary conditions are met, no land has been allocated to any of his children.”;
According to the aide, the only documented allocation cited in the report was a Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) issued to JOAQ Farms and Estate Limited — a legally registered Nigerian firm — strictly for agricultural purposes in Bwari Area Council.
“So what’s is wrong with a farmer getting land allocation strictly for the purpose of agriculture?”; he fiercely asked.
“For the avoidance of doubt, JOAQ Farms and Estate Limited, a company duly registered in Nigeria got land allocation in Bwari Area Council for the purpose of farming,”; Olayinka clarified.
