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Gazette Accuses FCT Minister, Wike Of Allocating Abuja lands To Father, Brothers, Sisters

Published by Tope Fakinlede on July 22nd, 2025.

Gazette Accuses FCT Minister, Wike Of Allocating Abuja lands To Father, Brothers, Sisters

Fresh revelations have raised serious concerns about Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike’s influence within President Bola Tinubu’s administration, with sources suggesting he is leveraging his political clout to distribute valuable plots of land in Abuja to members of his immediate and extended family.

Throughout Nigeria’s political history, certain individuals have emerged as powerbrokers within presidential administrations. The pattern is now being repeated, some say, with Mr. Wike’s apparent unchecked authority and the extent of his involvement in federal land matters.

A recent report reveals that on July 4, 2025, just days after an investigative series by Peoples Gazette exposed alleged misuse of land allocation powers, Mr. Wike summoned key urban development officials at the FCTA and reportedly provided a list of close relatives and associates to be granted expedited access to prime land parcels. The list allegedly included names of childhood friends and family members, indicating what officials described as a “brazen escalation” of nepotism.

One FCTA official recounted, “He seemed angered by the backlash from the media, so instead of backing down, he doubled down—expanding the list of beneficiaries to more relatives and old friends.”

Documents reviewed by Peoples Gazette indicate that on July 16, Mr. Wike signed off on 33 new land allocations, all reportedly drawn from his July 4 list. Among those named were his father, Joshua Nlemanya Wike, who allegedly received a 1,042-square-metre plot in Guzape II valued at N400 million. Additional recipients included several nephews, cousins, and other extended family members from Rivers State.

These July allocations followed earlier grants made on April 22 to six other Wike family members, including siblings and close relatives, for parcels in the same Guzape II district—ranging from approximately 2,100 to 2,800 square metres each.

According to internal sources, many of these allocations were allegedly fast-tracked through verbal orders from the minister, bypassing standard procedures such as payment of statutory fees and approval by relevant authorities.

“He governs like someone who doesn’t believe there will ever be consequences,” said a senior FCTA staff member under anonymity. “It’s as if accountability simply doesn’t apply to him.”

Mr. Wike has reportedly claimed that his role in Tinubu’s 2023 electoral victory gives him a level of immunity within the administration. He’s said to frequently remind colleagues of his “significant financial and political contributions” to Tinubu’s campaign—and has suggested the president will need his support again in 2027.

Although he has denied the Gazette’s allegations, Mr. Wike also misrepresented the details of the reports, falsely claiming the media accused him of gifting 3,822 hectares in Maitama and Asokoro to his children. In reality, the investigations point to scattered allocations across various Abuja suburbs totaling that figure, given to his sons Joaquin and Jordan Wike, with a reported combined value of $6.45 million.

Following the backlash, rather than showing restraint, aides allege the minister became more emboldened. “He saw how easy it was to manipulate media narratives and simply pushed forward,” one source said.

Concerns have grown within the presidency over how to handle the situation. According to insiders, some senior officials fear Mr. Wike’s conduct reflects poorly on President Tinubu’s leadership, especially at a time when public discontent over economic instability is high. A recent survey placed Tinubu’s approval rating in the low 30s.

However, the president is reportedly torn between taking disciplinary action against Wike and preserving a powerful ally who could prove useful during the 2027 campaign. Aides suggest Mr. Wike’s access to resources and capacity to mobilize political support could be instrumental in confronting new opposition movements, such as the emerging coalition under the African Democratic Congress.

An investigative panel was quietly set up to look into the allegations, but as of mid-July, sources say the minister had yet to be summoned.

Legal experts argue that Wike’s actions may contravene the Nigerian Constitution. The Fifth Schedule, Part I, prohibits public officials from using their position for personal gain or that of their family members. It outlines penalties including removal from office and criminal prosecution.

Despite this, anti-corruption bodies such as the EFCC and ICPC have so far refrained from taking formal action. Insiders say both agencies continue to monitor the situation, but as part of the executive branch, they are unlikely to proceed without a directive from the presidency.

While spokespersons for both agencies declined to comment, the Human and Environmental Development Agenda has submitted formal petitions to the ICPC, calling for a comprehensive investigation. The group labeled the minister’s conduct a “reckless abuse of power and unlawful accumulation of public property.”

Mr. Wike, through his aides, has continued to maintain his innocence and insisted that his actions were within the bounds of the law.