Wike Fires Back: I Didn't Come To Grab Land, I Came To Build Infrastructure For Judicial Officers

Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has mounted a robust defence of his administration's land revocation policies, dismissing critics who have labelled him a "land grabber" and insisting that his actions are firmly in the public interest, aimed at providing critical infrastructure for judicial officers in the nation's capital. Speaking on Tuesday during the commissioning of the Judges' Quarters and the Court of Appeal, and the flag-off of construction for quarters for the Industrial Court and Code of Conduct Tribunal Judges, Wike declared that the criticisms are an inevitable part of political life and will not deter him from pursuing development projects. Wike directly addressed the controversy surrounding the land on which the Judges' Quarters now stand, revealing that it had been allocated to the construction giant Julius Berger 15 years ago but was left undeveloped. He explained that his administration revoked the allocation and utilised the land for the benefit of judicial officers. "This land was allocated to Julius Berger 15 years ago and I revoked it," Wike declared. He noted that the land had remained idle with no roads or infrastructure, prompting him to act in the public interest. "I looked around: no road, nowhere to take land. ... I said okay, you are waiting for infrastructure. After taking our land, no problem. I revoked the land for public interest," he stated.

The Minister also justified the administration's decision to take over surrounding properties near the Judges' Quarters, citing security concerns. Wike said that private developers had started building in areas earmarked for the judges' accommodation, creating potential security risks. "I don't know who is going to stay on the third floor and looking at where the judges are staying, some could be kidnappers, you never can tell and they are waiting for you to come out from the gate for something to happen," he explained. He stated that the government has taken over the whole land and is committed to buying out private owners and handing it over to the judiciary to ensure the protection of judicial officers. Wike dismissed the criticisms directed at him, asserting that being labelled a "land grabber" is simply a consequence of being a politician. "So all over social media they say oh he is a land grabber. He has come to grab land," he said. He recounted how even his wife had been affected by the online narrative. "I said look, I'm a politician. Do your own work. Let me do my own work. If you don't want to be abused, don't be a politician," he declared. He maintained that his actions are aimed at development and not personal enrichment. "They can now see that I did not come to grab land; I only came to see where we can develop, providing infrastructure for the judicial officers," Wike added.

The FCT Minister said he remains unbothered by the criticisms, advising that once a person knows what they are doing, they should not listen to what people are saying. He joked that he deals with the pressure by taking a good whisky and sleeping well. "If you like abuse me from morning till night, but I just come back and ask my wife if there is any good whisky which I take and go and sleep," he said. "While you are worrying yourself, I'm sleeping very well," he added. Wike also issued a stern warning to judges and justices in Abuja to pay their ground rents or risk having their properties confiscated. Speaking during the commissioning of the Court of Appeal building, he stressed that development requires funding, and everyone must play their role as good citizens. "How many of us here have paid our ground rent and tenement rent, so it's not enough to clap that we are happy, ask where did we get the money from?" he asked. He warned: "I have seen all the justices smiling, so if you know that you have not paid your ground rent, consider that the land will no longer belong to you, we will give it to those who can pay us ground rent to build public infrastructure." The event was part of activities marking President Bola Tinubu's third year in office. Wike praised the President's support for the FCT, noting that the number of days dedicated to project commissioning has grown from nine in 2024 to 30 in 2026.

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