Nigeria’s leading private broadcaster, Channels Television, has issued a strong official rebuttal to comments made by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, regarding land allocation to the station in Guzape district.
In a statement responding to the minister’s remarks during a recent media parley, the station firmly denied any profiteering or undue financial gain from the land and challenged Wike to publicly release the full list of journalists and media organisations that have received land allocations in the FCT.
The exchange stems from Wike’s defence of land allocation policies during interactions with journalists. The minister reportedly questioned critics by citing past allocations to members of the press, specifically referencing the land occupied by Channels Television in Guzape and asking whether it was purchased or given.
Channels Television’s rebuttal pushes back against any implication of impropriety. “We are not making money from Guzape land,” the station asserted, clarifying the nature of its occupancy and operations on the site. The broadcaster emphasised its long-standing commitment to professional journalism and public service, distancing itself from suggestions of commercial exploitation of the allocated land.
The station further escalated the matter by demanding greater transparency. It called on the FCT Minister to make public the complete list of journalists who have benefited from land allocations under his administration or previous ones. This challenge aims to broaden the conversation beyond Channels TV and address lingering questions about fairness, due process, and equity in FCT land administration.
The rebuttal comes amid heightened scrutiny of land allocation practices in Abuja. Recent reports have highlighted multiple allocations in premium districts such as Guzape, Maitama, and Asokoro, including to high-profile individuals.
Wike has consistently defended his administration’s approach, arguing that allocations follow established procedures and that critics often blow issues out of proportion.
During the media engagement, Wike pointed out that land had been allocated to journalists in the past without similar public outrage, using it to counter criticisms of other allocations.
His comments triggered immediate reactions, with some journalists expressing surprise at the scale of such benefits to the press corps.
Channels Television’s response underscores a growing demand for transparency in public asset distribution, particularly in the prized FCT real estate. The station maintained that it operates professionally and remains undeterred in its journalistic duties.
The back-and-forth highlights tensions between the FCT administration and sections of the media. Industry observers note that land allocation in Abuja has long been a sensitive issue, often raising questions about influence, favouritism, and access for ordinary citizens versus well-connected entities.
The FCT Minister’s office is yet to issue a direct response to Channels Television’s latest statement as of the time of this report.
