Nyesom Wike, Nigeria’s Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), is at the center of a growing controversy following claims that he allocated 2,082 hectares (approximately 5,144 acres) of prime Abuja land—valued at $3.6 billion—to his son, Joaquin, according to a post on X Thursday.
The allegation, posted by user @rilwan_ola01 at 12:55 p.m. WAT, included an image of a certificate of occupancy purportedly issued to JOAQ Farms and Estate Limited, a company allegedly linked to Joaquin Wike. The certificate, issued under the Land Use Act of 1978, which vests land control in the FCT Minister, has sparked outrage and calls for investigation on social media.
“Wike allocates 2,082 hectares of land, worth $3.6 billion, to his son Joaquin in Maitama, Asokoro, and more,” the post read, accompanied by the certificate. However, the document’s authenticity remains unverified, and Wike’s aide, Lere Olayinka, swiftly denied the claims in a statement to the Daily Post Nigeria at 2:59 p.m. WAT. “The publication … is false and should be disregarded,” Olayinka said, asserting that the only allocation tied to JOAQ Farms was for agricultural purposes in the less-developed Bwari Area Council.
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The land’s alleged location in upscale districts like Maitama and Asokoro—known for multimillion-dollar properties—has fueled scepticism. Real estate experts note that such a vast, contiguous allocation in these areas is improbable due to dense development, suggesting the land might be in outlying FCT regions. Still, the $3.6 billion valuation aligns with high-end Abuja land prices, which can exceed millions per hectare.
Wike, a prominent political figure and former Rivers State governor, has a history of land management, including revoking 21 dormant allocations in 2023 to curb speculation. Critics on X, including @Amososime, accused the government of hypocrisy, noting the lack of outrage compared to the scrutiny faced by opposition figures. “No press conference, no moral lectures,” the user wrote.
The timing of the claim, emerging just hours before this report, has intensified online debates, with users like @Irunnia_ questioning, “When will Nigerians wake up and say enough is enough?” Meanwhile, @shehu_mahdi lamented, “We have been mentally defeated.”
Joaquin Wike, having a familial tie to the minister, raises speculation of nepotism. The FCT Administration has not yet issued an official response beyond Olayinka’s statement.
As of 4:19 p.m. WAT Thursday, the allegations remain unproven, but they have reignited discussions about transparency in Nigeria’s land allocation processes. Further investigation is anticipated as the story develops.
