The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has totally dismissed claims that he allocated over 2,000 hectares of land in Maitama and Asokoro districts to one of his sons.
The report which has been making rounds on the internet claims that the FCT Minister had allocated 2,082 hectares of land in Asokoro and Maitama to his son in secret.
In reaction, Wike through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, debunked the claims describing it as false and the handiwork of quack journalists.
In the Thursday statement, the minister debunked that even a single plot of land has never been allocated to any of Wike’s sons.
He said; “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.
“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.
“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.”
“In the publication, a Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) issued to JOAQ Farms and Estate Limited, for Agricultural purpose was the only evidence used to justify the claim. 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. So what’s is wrong with a farmer getting land allocation strictly for the purpose of agriculture?
Olayinka accused the publishers of being on a special mission to tarnish the image of the minister while making it clear that the family can own as many plots of lands as they wish in any part of the city.
