Wike blasts critics over diplomat land allocations, defends Abuja policy

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has defended the allocation of land to diplomats and organisations in Abuja, dismissing critics of the policy as hypocrites benefiting from similar arrangements they now condemn publicly.

Wike made the remarks on Thursday during a project inspection in Abuja, a day after a heated media exchange over the rationale behind land allocations to ambassadors-designate and private organisations within the Federal Capital Territory.

The controversy followed comments made by the minister during a media chat on Wednesday, where he referenced the allocation of land to Channels Television in Guzape in 2007 as part of his defence of the government’s land allocation policy.

According to Wike, the media organisation benefited from land allocated by the government and later developed it for commercial purposes, arguing that there was nothing unusual about extending similar allocations to diplomats or institutions willing to invest in the capital city.

Channels Television, however, rejected the minister’s claims, insisting that all statutory fees and legal obligations tied to the property had been fully paid.

Responding to the criticism on Thursday, Wike said media organisations are businesses designed to generate profit and should not pretend otherwise while attacking government policies they once benefited from.

“Media organisations are not set up for charity, they are for business. This is the reason they do adverts and collect money. Apart from payments for adverts and live coverage, there are commercial news on which money are paid,” he said.

The minister argued that land allocations in the FCT are not outright sales but part of broader urban development arrangements tied to investment commitments and government regulations.

“So if government allocated land, not sell, because in the FCT government does not sell land, to a media organisation to build structures where it runs its business, is the organisation not making money from the land?” Wike asked.

“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?” he added.

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Wike further explained that allottees, including diplomats, are required to pay processing charges and procedural fees connected to their Certificates of Occupancy (C of O), stressing that the process follows established administrative guidelines.

“The FCT does not sell land; it allocates it based on specific conditions and investment proposals,” he stated.

The former Rivers State governor also noted that many of the allocations now generating controversy were approved by previous administrations, arguing that governance is a continuous process regardless of changes in political leadership.

He maintained that his administration would continue prioritising urban development and enforcing conditions tied to allocated land to ensure infrastructure growth across Abuja.

The comments come amid increasing public scrutiny of land administration in the FCT, especially regarding allocations to political allies, diplomats and corporate institutions as Abuja continues to expand rapidly.

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