By Sarah NEGEDU
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed as false and malicious a report alleging that he had allocated 2,082 hectares of land to his son in Maitama and Asokoro.
Describing the claim as a product of “quack journalism,” the Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, said not even a single plot of land has been allocated to any of the Minister’s children.
Olayinka, in a statement on Thursday, questioned the logic that over 2,000 hectares of land can still be found in present day Maitama and Asokoro undeveloped.
“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.”
challenged the online publisher of what he described as malicious and bitterness painted publication to provide evidence of any land allocation bearing the name of any of the Minister’s children.
He challenged the online publishers of what he called a “malicious and bitterness painted publication” to provide evidence linking any of the minister’s children to any land allocation in Abuja.
Part of the statement reads, “
“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.”
Olayinka clarified that the only land allocation cited in the report was a Right of Occupancy, R-of-O, issued to JOAQ Farms and Estate Limited, a company that received land in Bwari Area Council strictly for agricultural purposes.
“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?
“Therefore, the publication, claiming that the FCT Minister allocated 2,082 hectares of land to his son, is false and should be disregarded.”
