Wike’s Governance in the FCT Marked by Controversy, Confusion

Sworn in as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory in August 2023, former Rivers State governor,  Nyesom Wike, has had a rather colorful term thus far, with his focus scattered in several directions and a clear plan difficult to ascertain. Tasked with administering the FCT, including planning, development, and security, Wike’s responsibilities also include supervising various agencies and departments responsible for providing services to FCT residents. Moments after taking office, Wike, during his first press conference as FCT minister, warned property developers and landlords who were altering Abuja’s masterplan that their properties may be demolished. “To those distorting Abuja’s master plan, beware. If you’ve constructed where prohibited, it will be demolished,” he cautioned. Nearly two years later, he has doubled down on land related aggression and has failed to show much direction in his governance beyond this obsession with land. 

In addition to Wike’s questionably land focused approach to governance, his term thus far has been marred by allegations of corruption, strikes within the educational sector in the FCT and his undue interference in the affairs of Rivers state government.

Last month, Wike revealed that his administration was considering an increase in ground rent payments, while describing the refusal to pay ground rent and other taxes as his greatest challenge in office. 

Sources report that the FCT administration began sealing properties belonging to ground rent defaulters in May of this year. These included the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party, the National Agency for Trafficking in Persons, the Federal Inland Revenue Service, a branch of Access Bank, and a Total Energies filling station. President Bola Tinubu intervened, granting a 14-day ultimatum for the payment of the owed sums, as well as penalties ranging between N2 million and N3 million, depending on locations within the FCT. 

This brash approach has prompted outrage and distress from residents of the country’s capital city, with several property owners accusing Wike of seizing their property and allocating them to his political cronies. 

One of them, a rights activist, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, alleged the revocation of the ownership of a property belonging to her late husband, Col. Paul Ogbebor (rtd), in Abuja, stating that the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) had issued a notice to quit on November 22, 2024, and went ahead to reallocate the property on December 9. She pleaded with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call the minister to order. 

The leadership of the PDP and the FIRS have criticised the actions of the Wike-led FCTA, describing them as unprofessional and an affront to the country’s democracy. 

Yet, this has not put an end to the brazen land grabbing by the minister. On the 26th of June, allegations that the FCT Minister is orchestrating a massive land allocation scheme to enrich his family, particularly his son, Joaquin in violation of federal regulations surfaced. While the legislation controlling land administration does not appear to contain sections that specifically ban a minister in charge of the FCT from granting land to family members, the transactions Wike approved for his son were far-reaching and systemic enough to constitute illicit self-dealing. 

An ongoing investigation by People’s Gazette uncovered documents revealing that Wike allocated at least 2.082 hectares — equivalent to 40,000 plots — across prime areas like Maitama, Asokoro, Guzape, Kwaita, Bwari and Gaduwa to his son’s company, Joaq Farms and Estates Ltd. since October 2024. The allocation valued at a whooping $3.6 billion, have drawn criticism for breaches of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers. 

Although the FCT Minister has denied these allegations via a press statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, President Tinubu has ordered an investigation into the matter.

While Wike immerses himself in land matters inconsequential to neither his responsibilities as FCT Minister nor the economic realities of his constituents, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued a seven-day ultimatum, demanding that he reopens the public primary schools in Abuja which have remained closed for three months, with hundreds of children out of school since March when the city’s primary school teachers began a strike triggered by the non-implementation of the new minimum wage (N77,000) and other outstanding demands. The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) directed all primary school teachers in the six FCT Area Councils to maintain the strike until their demands were met and thus far, Wike’s administration has made no moves to resolve the issue.

Further highlighting Wike’s lack of direction is his unrelenting interference in the affairs of the Rivers state government which has spanned over two years, finally culminating in Tinubu declaring a state of emergency in Rivers state, suspending governor Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu and the activities of the State Assembly for six months. 

While the residents of both Rivers state and the FCT ultimately pay the price for this gross abuse of power, during a closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa on the 26th of June, a deal was struck to reinstate Fubara as Rivers state — under strict conditions; Fubara must abandon any 2027 re-election bid, Wike must appoint all 23 local government chairmen and Fubara is little more than a figurehead without any real political power. This total hijack of the democratic system will only serve to further distract the FCT minister from his appointed duties, while constituents of both Rivers state and the FCT pay the ultimate price. 

In under two years, Nyesom Wike’s time as FCT Minister has been marked by controversy, erratic decisions, and a glaring lack of focus. His tenure has sparked outrage through heavy-handed property actions, questionable land deals, and a troubling disregard for public education. As corruption allegations mount and investigations continue, what remains undeniable is the growing frustration among Abuja’s residents. The country’s capital needs leadership grounded in accountability and public service — qualities Wike has yet to consistently demonstrate.