The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has denied explosive allegations that he allocated over 2,000 hectares of prime Abuja land — valued at $3.6 billion — to his son, Joaquin Wike.
The denial follows an exclusive report by Peoples Gazette, which alleged that Wike had personally signed off on massive land allocations in Abuja’s most exclusive districts to JOAQ Farms and Estates Ltd, a company reportedly linked to his son.
In a statement released on Thursday, Wike’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, dismissed the report as “blackmail,” insisting that:
“No land has been allocated to any of his children,”Olayinka said, adding that “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.”
Allegations of Land Misuse and Regulatory Bypass
According to the Peoples Gazette, Wike, since assuming office in August 2023, allocated 2,082 hectares of high-value land in Maitama, Asokoro, Gaduwa, Guzape, and Bwari to Joaq Farms and Estates Ltd. The report alleges that Wike:
Bypassed key civil service regulations,
Personally issued certificates of occupancy, and
Avoided critical payments such as ground rent and survey fees.
A senior aide reportedly told the newspaper:
“When we told the minister in April that he needed to slow down on frequent allocations to his own children, he said he was just starting because his goal was to make them the largest landowners in Abuja.”
The company in question, Joaq Farms, was registered on October 10, 2024, and allegedly began receiving land allocations almost immediately. By October 17, Wike had reportedly allocated 350 hectares to the firm under File No. 155882.
On February 25, 2025, six certificates of occupancy — totaling over 1,500 hectares — were allegedly signed by Wike himself under file numbers 159134 through 159140. A seventh file, 159135, was also said to be linked to the company.
Response: “It’s Just Agricultural Land in Bwari”
Reacting to specific allegations about Joaq Farms, Olayinka admitted that the company received land but denied any involvement in elite districts like Maitama or Asokoro.
“JOAQ Farms and Estate Limited, a company duly registered in Nigeria, got land allocation in Bwari Area Council for the purpose of farming. So what’s wrong with a farmer getting land allocation strictly for the purpose of agriculture?”— Lere Olayinka, Media Aide to the FCT Minister
However, Peoples Gazette insists that the agricultural designation was a cover to fast-track land grabs in highly coveted areas. The report also claims the company's registered office address at 13 Thaba Tseka Street, Wuse II — misspelled as “Theba” in the documents — is linked to Wike’s private business interests.
Diplomatic and Civilian Land Reallocations Alleged
The report further alleges that some plots were seized from private citizens and diplomatic entities, including land previously owned by the Austrian Embassy in Abuja’s Central Area.
Mounting Public Outrage Amid FCT Wage Crisis
The controversy has triggered public backlash, particularly as the FCT under Wike is reportedly struggling to pay salaries across key departments like water, broadcasting, and environmental services.
As calls grow for accountability, neither the Presidency nor the anti-corruption agencies have yet commented on the allegations.