Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has lashed at out at those criticising land allocation to diplomats in Abuja, accusing them of questioning policies from which they previously benefited.

Mr Wike’s statement came hours after he was asked about the rationale behind allocation of land to ambassadors-designate during a media chat in Abuja on Wednesday. 

The minister, in the media chat, specifically accused Channels TV, a media organisation headquartered in Abuja, of profiting from a land property allocated to the station in Guzape in 2007.

The media organisation, however, dismissed Mr Wike’s statement as incorrect, noting all the required fees and statutory charges connected to the land were dult paid.

Addressing journalists during a project inspection on Thursday, the minister argued that land allocation remains a standard government procedure designed to drive investment and urban development.

Mr Wike stressed that media houses operate as profit-driven businesses rather than charitable organisations, noting they charge for adverts, live coverage and commercial news to fund their operations and salaries.

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

“So if government allocated land (not sell, because in the FCT, government don’t sell lands) to a media organisation to build structures where it run its business, is the organisation not making money from the land?

​”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?”, Mr Wike stated.

​The minister further clarified that the government allocates land based on developmental agreements, adding that allottees were required to pay procedural fees for their certificates of occupancy.

“The FCT does not sell land; it allocates it based on specific conditions and investment proposals. All allottees, including diplomats, are required to pay procedural fees for the processing of their Certificate of Occupancy (C of O),” he stated.

Mr Wike noted that many of the allocations being questioned were made by previous administrations, as the government is a continuous entity.

​The minister reiterated that his administration would continue to prioritise realistic urban development, insisting land allocated for development must be used as agreed.