Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has allocated prime land parcels in Abuja to several members of his family and close associates, including his 90-year-old father, Joshua Nlemanya Wike.
This follows widespread backlash over previous land allocations to his children.
The minister’s actions have raised concerns over abuse of office and political impunity, particularly within President Bola Tinubu’s administration, where Mr Wike is believed to wield considerable influence. Some officials say his dominance rivals past political powerbrokers such as Umaru Dikko, Hamza Al-Mustapha, and Diezani Alison-Madueke.
Sources within the FCT Administration (FCTA) told Peoples Gazette that shortly after the publication of a previous investigation into land allocations to his sons, Mr Wike convened an urgent meeting with FCTA officials on July 4, 2025. During the meeting, he reportedly expanded the list of land beneficiaries to include 38 names—mostly family and friends.
“The minister said he was pissed that the media was making an issue of his decision to allocate lands to his children,” an official familiar with the meeting said. “So he decided to expand his inventory of beneficiaries.”
On July 16, Mr Wike signed 33 new land approvals. Beneficiaries included his father, who was allocated 1,042 square metres in Guzape II, valued at N400 million under file number 62783. Other family members allocated land on the same day include paternal cousin Believe Wike, nephews Victor Wike and Henry Wike, and cousin Primise Wike. All recipients were from Rivers State.
These allocations are in addition to those granted in April 2025, when six family members received plots in the same neighborhood: Vincent Ejike Wike, Chidi Sam Wike, Chituru Wike, Christian Ibebulachi Wike, Collins Ngeme Wike, and Emmanuel Okanwene Wike. The sizes of their plots ranged from 2,158 to 2,813 square metres, with rights of occupancy recorded under different file numbers.
FCTA officials said Mr Wike often issued verbal directives allowing family and allies to bypass statutory payment processes. His governing style reportedly mirrors his public posture, which insiders describe as dismissive of accountability.
“He rules this place like someone who does not believe in accountability,” said a senior official. “He just doesn’t see himself being asked to render accounts someday.”
Some aides said Mr Wike often reminds staff of his role in President Tinubu’s 2023 election victory and suggests the president would rely on him again in 2027.
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has allocated prime land parcels in Abuja to several members of his family and close associates, including his 90-year-old father, Joshua Nlemanya Wike.
This follows widespread backlash over previous land allocations to his children.
The minister’s actions have raised concerns over abuse of office and political impunity, particularly within President Bola Tinubu’s administration, where Mr Wike is believed to wield considerable influence. Some officials say his dominance rivals past political powerbrokers such as Umaru Dikko, Hamza Al-Mustapha, and Diezani Alison-Madueke.
Sources within the FCT Administration (FCTA) told Peoples Gazette that shortly after the publication of a previous investigation into land allocations to his sons, Mr Wike convened an urgent meeting with FCTA officials on July 4, 2025. During the meeting, he reportedly expanded the list of land beneficiaries to include 38 names—mostly family and friends.
“The minister said he was pissed that the media was making an issue of his decision to allocate lands to his children,” an official familiar with the meeting said. “So he decided to expand his inventory of beneficiaries.”
On July 16, Mr Wike signed 33 new land approvals. Beneficiaries included his father, who was allocated 1,042 square metres in Guzape II, valued at N400 million under file number 62783. Other family members allocated land on the same day include paternal cousin Believe Wike, nephews Victor Wike and Henry Wike, and cousin Primise Wike. All recipients were from Rivers State.
These allocations are in addition to those granted in April 2025, when six family members received plots in the same neighborhood: Vincent Ejike Wike, Chidi Sam Wike, Chituru Wike, Christian Ibebulachi Wike, Collins Ngeme Wike, and Emmanuel Okanwene Wike. The sizes of their plots ranged from 2,158 to 2,813 square metres, with rights of occupancy recorded under different file numbers.
FCTA officials said Mr Wike often issued verbal directives allowing family and allies to bypass statutory payment processes. His governing style reportedly mirrors his public posture, which insiders describe as dismissive of accountability.
“He rules this place like someone who does not believe in accountability,” said a senior official. “He just doesn’t see himself being asked to render accounts someday.”
Some aides said Mr Wike often reminds staff of his role in President Tinubu’s 2023 election victory and suggests the president would rely on him again in 2027.
READ MORE: https://parallelfactsnews.com/my-children-have-right-to-own-land-wike/
“He keeps reminding us of how he made heavy investment to help the president in 2023,” one aide said. “He even said the president can’t do anything to him, and no judge in 2025 Nigeria would dare convict him of any stupid corruption.”
Although Mr Wike has denied allegations of election manipulation and land allocations to his children, documents reviewed by The Gazette showed that his sons—Joaquin and Jordan Wike—received 3,822 hectares of land in total, worth an estimated $6.45 million.
Despite initial concern after media revelations, aides claim Mr Wike became emboldened when he observed how easily he could manipulate media narratives.
“The minister just chuckled when we asked if he didn’t see anything wrong with his family members suddenly acquiring lands all over Abuja,” an aide said. “Do they all just happen to be able to afford assets in expensive neighbourhoods after he became minister?”
Senior presidency sources acknowledged that the situation is troubling but difficult to manage politically.
“We know Nigerians are looking at this and they’re asking why the president cannot just sack a minister brutally undermining his government,” an official said. “But it is a complicated situation for those of us in the Villa.”
The official added that Mr Tinubu faces dwindling public approval due to economic hardship and insecurity. Some aides argue that keeping Mr Wike, who they describe as deep-pocketed and politically ruthless, could prove crucial to the president’s re-election campaign.
“The president did not ask Wike to make so much money from public lands as we’re witnessing now,” one official said. “But some of that money can end up being invaluable to the success of our campaign for a second term.”
A panel established to investigate the matter has yet to summon Mr Wike, even three weeks after its creation was disclosed.
Mr Tinubu’s reluctance to act decisively may risk implicating him in alleged constitutional breaches. The Nigerian Constitution, Fifth Schedule, Part I, criminalizes the use of public office for personal enrichment, mandating removal and prosecution for such conduct.
When contacted, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga directed inquiries about the land allocations to the minister’s media aides. A spokesman for Mr Wike declined to comment. The minister, however, has previously denied wrongdoing and insisted that allocating lands to family members does not violate Nigerian law.
Anti-corruption agencies including the EFCC and ICPC are reportedly monitoring the situation, though neither has begun formal investigations. Their spokespersons declined comment. As executive branch agencies, they would require presidential authorization to probe or charge a serving minister.
Meanwhile, the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) has filed petitions with ICPC, urging a probe into what it described as “reckless abuse of office and primitive diversion and accumulation of public assets.”
