“My Children Are Nigerians, Not Ghanaians – They Have a Right to Own Land,” Says Wike

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed allegations that he allocated thousands of hectares of land in Abuja’s high-end districts to his sons, insisting his children have the same rights as any other Nigerian citizens to own land.

Speaking during a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Wike defended his children’s citizenship and their entitlement to land ownership, provided legal procedures are followed. “Assuming, though not conceding, my children applied for land. Are they not citizens? Are they Ghanaians? Even if they applied, are they not entitled because I’m minister?” he said.

Wike strongly denied the claims that he awarded 2,082 hectares of land to one of his sons through JOAQ Farms and Estates Limited, and an additional 1,740 hectares to his other son, Jordan — a combined 3,822 hectares allegedly valued at \$6.45 billion. He questioned the credibility and origin of the allegations, asserting that such expansive land is not even available in the areas mentioned.

“First, calculate land in Maitama and Asokoro and tell me where you’d get 2,000 hectares of land,” he said. “The whole thing is rubbish. Where in Maitama and Asokoro can you find 2,000 hectares? Bring the documents, bring empirical evidence.”

Wike claimed the accusations were part of a deliberate smear campaign from an individual in Adamawa State aimed at discrediting his leadership.