Land grabbing: How Wike allocated 2,082 hectares worth $3.6b to son in Abuja

Details of how the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Nysom Wike allocated 2,082 hectares worth $3.6 billion to son, Joaquin Wike in Abuja have emerged.

The Peoples Gazette while quoting official documents, reports that Joaquin Wike, the Minister’s last of two sons, has received at least 2,000 hectares, or 40,000 plots, in Maitama, Asokoro, Guzape and other parts of Abuja.

Officials estimated that the hectares Mr Wike has issued to his son, along with certificates of occupancy, are worth at least $3.6 billion.

A plot in Maitama and Asokoro, where Wike reportedly gave his son at least seven hectares total, was recently sold for $1.28 and $1.4 million, respectively.

The company, Joaq Farms and Estates Ltd, was registered on October 10, 2024. Barely a week later, on October 17, 2024, Mr Wike allocated 350 hectares to the business via file number 155882 and certificate of occupancy number 0000162.

The company listed its address as 13, Thaba Tseka Street, Wuse II, with Thaba mispelled on the documents as Theba.

The address has long been associated with Mr Wike and his numerous fronts in the Nigerian capital, The Gazette also reported.

How much the president knew about Mr Wike’s reckless looting of lands across the federal capital remained unclear.

A State House source according to the Gazette, said Mr Wike’s behaviour had raised severe concern for the administration, but there was no clear way of dealing with him yet.

“Let me be honest with you and tell you that Nyesom Wike is a serious liability to the Tinubu administration,” an aide to the president said. “While we’re focused on tackling the economy and insecurity, he’s busy seizing lands from Abuja residents and reallocating them to himself.”

The official said the president might not have the courage to deal with Mr Wike anytime soon, especially as he wouldn’t want to create a fissure within his ranks amidst a looming general election.

“The president would eventually have to decide on what to do with the minister,” the official said. “But predicting whether that is going to be before or after the election is beyond my service charge.”

Under existing laws, Mr Tinubu is the custodian of all lands across the Nigerian capital. At the same time, the minister, appointed by the president, acts as the administrator executing the president’s priorities for the territory.

Anti-corruption campaigner Patience Okonkwo said Mr Wike’s action should trigger an immediate and expansive probe of land administration under his watch.

“If I can speak on the documents I am seeing here, then I’d say this is unconscionable,” Mrs Okonkwo said after being shown the files by The Gazette. “This takes public graft to a new level, and consequences should be severe in a serious country.”

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