By Ayomide Otitoju
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, is facing mounting scrutiny over allegations of large-scale land allocations to his family and close associates, raising concerns about unchecked political influence within President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
According to documents obtained by Peoples Gazette and reviewed by NewsOnline Nigeria, Wike reportedly approved 33 new land allocations to relatives and long-time allies just days after a July 1 exposé alleged widespread cronyism in land distribution. This expansion reportedly took place even as a presidential panel was said to be investigating earlier complaints.
Among the beneficiaries is Wike’s 90-year-old father, Joshua Nlemanya Wike, who received over 1,000 square metres of prime land in Guzape II, Abuja—valued at an estimated ₦400 million. Other recipients include cousins, nephews, and childhood associates from Rivers State.
Sources within the FCT Administration allege that Wike instructed officials to bypass standard procedures, including the payment of statutory fees, in granting these allocations. “He rules this place like someone who doesn’t believe he’ll ever be asked to account,” one official told NewsOnline Nigeria on condition of anonymity.
Earlier in April, six other members of Wike’s extended family reportedly received land allocations, bringing the total number of known beneficiaries connected to him to at least 39.
Critics point to Wike’s key role in President Tinubu’s 2023 electoral success in Rivers State, suggesting that his perceived political immunity stems from those contributions. Allegedly, Wike has boasted that “no one, including the president or a court, can touch him.”
Despite a presidential panel being formed three weeks ago, no summons has been issued to the minister. Analysts say President Tinubu now faces a dilemma between preserving a powerful political alliance or acting to uphold public trust.
Legal experts have noted that the Nigerian Constitution bars public officials from using their positions for the personal enrichment of family members. If the allegations are substantiated, Wike could face dismissal and criminal prosecution.
While the EFCC and ICPC have not initiated formal investigations, sources say such probes require presidential clearance. Civil society group HEDA Resource Centre has filed petitions against Wike, condemning the alleged conduct as “reckless abuse of office and primitive accumulation.”
Wike has denied any wrongdoing, claiming the reports were distorted. The presidency and the minister’s media team have declined to comment further as pressure continues to mount on the administration for accountability.
