Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims by Channels Television that it bought land in Abuja, insisting that the Federal Capital Territory Administration does not sell land but only allocates it.
Reacting to reports suggesting that the media organisation had paid for land allocated to it in the FCT, Wike clarified that the payment made was strictly for the processing of its Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) and not for the purchase of the land itself.
According to him, the land was allocated in line with standard administrative procedures, stressing that such allocations are common and should not be misrepresented as outright sales.
“The money paid was to process their CofO, which is done regularly. Therefore, the land was allocated, not bought,” Wike stated.
He further argued that media organisations are businesses established to generate revenue, not charitable institutions, noting that they earn money through advertising, sponsored content, live coverage, and commercial news.
“Media organisations are not set up for charity; they are for business. That is why they do adverts and collect money. Apart from payments for adverts and live coverage, there are commercial news on which money are paid. This is how they make money to fund their operations and pay staff salaries,” he said.
Wike questioned why the issue of land allocation to media organisations should be seen as controversial, maintaining that if such allocation is acceptable for one entity, it should not be condemned when extended to others.
“So if government allocated land—not sold, 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?” he asked.
He added, “Also, if allocation of land to you is right, why should it be wrong when others get?”
The minister’s remarks come amid ongoing public scrutiny over land administration in the FCT and allegations of preferential treatment in land allocations.
