Wike’s Billion-Dollar Land Grab: FCT Minister Under Fire for Allocating Over 2,000 Hectares to Son in Brazen Abuse of Office
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, is at the centre of a growing storm over what anti-corruption advocates are describing as one of the most audacious and unethical land rackets in recent Nigerian history.
Documents obtained by The Gazette and corroborated by insider sources show that Mr. Wike has personally approved the allocation of over 2,000 hectares of prime Abuja land estimated to be worth at least $3.6 billion to his son, Joaquin Wike, through a controversial scheme that raises troubling questions about systemic abuse of office, cronyism, and disregard for public accountability.
From Dormant Allocations to Dynastic Greed
Last December, Mr. Wike dismissed critics who accused him of enriching himself and his associates by revoking dormant land titles and reallocating them under the guise of reform. Today, however, the evidence suggests a clear pattern of self-dealing masked as policy.
While the Nigerian Land Use Act does not explicitly prohibit a minister from granting land to family members, legal experts argue that the scale, frequency, and strategic value of these allocations to his son reflect a deliberate and coordinated misuse of public power for private gain.
“This is not just nepotism it is public theft,” said Patience Okonkwo, a leading anti-corruption advocate, after reviewing the documents. “We’re witnessing a dangerous fusion of political impunity and personal aggrandizement.”
How the Land Grab Unfolded
In October 2024, a company named Joaq Farms and Estates Ltd, reportedly owned by Mr. Wike’s son Joaquin, was registered. Within one week, the company received 350 hectares via ministerial approval—complete with certificates of occupancy. By May 2025, the total had ballooned to 2,082 hectares, spanning lucrative districts like Maitama, Asokoro, Guzape, Bwari, and Gaduwa.
Several of these plots were previously allocated to foreign missions and private Nigerian families, some of whom were reportedly displaced under duress or silence.
In a particularly disturbing revelation, a source within the FCT Ministry disclosed:
“When we told the minister in April to exercise caution, he laughed and said his goal was to make his children the biggest landowners in Abuja.”
Official records show that Mr. Wike circumvented required ground rent and survey fee payments, violating multiple provisions of the Nigerian Code of Conduct for Public Officers as outlined in the Constitution’s Fifth Schedule.
Impacts on Governance and Public Services
While amassing billions in land value for his family, the Wike-led FCT Administration has failed to pay salaries for several months across key departments, including the environmental, broadcasting, and water boards. This paints a stark picture of a government that prioritizes personal wealth over public welfare.
In a city already reeling from housing inflation, displaced families, and erratic urban planning, the unchecked conversion of public land into family assets further deepens mistrust in leadership.
Political Fallout and National Implications
Mr. Wike, a former governor of Rivers State and a PDP strongman-turned-Tinubu ally, has continued to play both sides of the political divide. Insiders at Aso Rock describe him as a “serious liability” to President Bola Tinubu’s administration, especially ahead of upcoming national elections.
“This scandal puts the presidency in a difficult position,” said a senior aide. “Wike’s actions undermine the anti-corruption message and risk alienating the public. But taking action could fracture internal political alliances.”
Despite widespread calls for accountability, the Presidency remains silent, and Mr. Wike’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, claimed ignorance of the allocations, declining further comment.
A Test for Nigeria’s Anti-Corruption War
This case is not just about one minister or one family. It is a litmus test for Nigeria’s institutional integrity. The abuse of discretionary powers by public officers, especially in land and resource management, continues to be a core enabler of inequality and governance failure.
If no action is taken, observers fear it will embolden other officials to act with similar impunity.
“The scale of this heist should provoke an immediate judicial inquiry,” said Mrs. Okonkwo. “Otherwise, we are simply licensing the looting of our children’s future.”
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