Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has defended the FCT land allocation system, insisting that critics questioning recent allocations to diplomats and other beneficiaries are being hypocritical and selective in their arguments.
Wike spoke on Thursday shortly after inspecting some ongoing projects in Abuja, where he also addressed questions arising from a recent media chat on public debate over the allocation of lands to Nigerian Ambassadors.
He dismissed claims suggesting that the government had recently allocated land unfairly to diplomats or selectively favoured certain interests.
Wike advised that, “When you are living in a glass house, don’t throw stones. You were given land, and you are not among the poor, so why are you complaining now?”
The minister’s comments comes barely hours after Channels Television, publicly declared that its Abuja office land was legitimately allocated to it in 2007 by the FCT Administration.
The media outfit, in a statement, maintained that the property housing its Abuja headquarters was lawfully acquired, stressing that it went through due process at the time of allocation and complied with all statutory requirements, including payments associated with land documentation and title perfection.
It further argued that the land was not obtained irregularly, but was formally granted under the prevailing land administration framework of the Federal Capital Territory at the time.
But the minister maintained that land allocation in Abuja is guided by structured government policy aimed at development and investment, and not the outright sale of land as is commonly misunderstood.
“The FCT does not sell land; it allocates it based on specific conditions and investment proposals. All allottees, including diplomats, are required to pay procedural fees for the processing of their Certificate of Occupancy, C of O.”
Wike said many of the allocations being questioned were not new, but inherited decisions from previous administrations, noting that government remains a continuous institution.
He also referenced media organisations in Abuja, including Channels Television and AIT, saying they operate from properties developed on land allocated by the FCT Administration.
The minister rejected suggestions that land allocation should be driven by sentiment, especially arguments that prioritise “ordinary Nigerians” over institutional or diplomatic interests.
He said prime locations in the capital require serious investment to be properly developed, warning that undeveloped or abandoned land would not be left indefinitely without action.
Wike cited the Jabi Lake area, where land allocated years ago for tourism and entertainment projects remained undeveloped until the government moved to reclaim it for reallocation.
He said his administration would continue to enforce land use conditions and prioritise structured urban development over emotional arguments on land ownership.
“I will always stand by the truth,” he said, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to land reforms and investment-led development in the Federal Capital Territory.
The minister also gave an update on several ongoing infrastructure projects inspected during the tour, saying most of the sites were at advanced stages of completion.
He said projects, including roads and bridges across different corridors, were nearing 100 per cent completion, adding that contractors had delivered “very quality jobs” across the visited locations.
At the OSEX corridor, the minister said only a small stretch of asphalt remained to be completed, while directing that the road be extended to Wassa Junction to improve connectivity and support urban expansion in the area.
He also highlighted the ongoing relocation and development works around the Apo Mechanics site in Wassa, describing it as part of long-standing commitments now being fulfilled under the current administration, with provisions for roads, water schemes and solar lighting underway.
