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I did not allocate 2,000 hectares to my son in Abuja – Min Wike

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has denied claims circulating online that he allocated over 2,000 hectares of land in Maitama and Asokoro districts to one of his sons.

An online report had claimed that FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, secretly allocated 2,082 hectares of land in Asokoro and Maitama, two of Abuja’s most exclusive districts, to his son.

The publication cited a Right of Occupancy allegedly issued in the name of JOAQ Farms and Estate Limited, which it linked to Wike’s family. The report insinuated that the land, officially meant for agricultural purposes, was being used as a front for personal gain.

Reacting to the reports, the Senior Special Assistant to the Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, described the publication as “another falsehood from the vault of those whose main job is to malign the FCT Minister.”

In a press statement issued on Thursday, Olayinka said, “Not even a single plot of land has been allocated to any of the Minister’s children.”

He dismissed the allegations as the handiwork of “quack journalists, who lacked basic training in journalism,” questioning the logic behind the story.

“In Asokoro and Maitama of today, where can the FCT Minister see 2,082 hectares of land to allocate to anyone? Only quack journalists will go to town with story of allocation of 2,082 hectares of land in Asokoro and Maitama, reason some of us have continually advocated for professionalism in journalism,” the statement read.

Olayinka accused the publisher of attempting to defame the FCT Minister, adding that Wike and his family were within their rights to own lands anywhere in the FCT, provided they met all necessary conditions.

“My attention has been drawn to yet, another malicious falsehood coming from the same elements whose job is to defame and malign the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

“Even though it is the right of the Minister and members of his family, both immediate and extended, to own lands anywhere in Nigeria, including the FCT, provided all necessary conditions are met, no land has been allocated to any of his children.”

“In the publication, a Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) issued to JOAQ Farms and Estate Limited, for Agricultural purpose was the only evidence used to justify the claim. For the avoidance of doubt, JOAQ Farms and Estate Limited, a company duly registered in Nigeria, got land allocation in Bwari Area Council for the purpose of farming. So what’s is wrong with a farmer getting land allocation strictly for the purpose of agriculture?” he queried.

Olayinka dismissed the entire report, stating that the publication was “false and should be disregarded.”

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Equatorial Guinea Vice President Announces Cabinet Resignation Over Poor Performance

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Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, Vice President of Equatorial Guinea, announced on Tuesday that the federal executive council has resigned after failing to meet its performance targets.

In a post on X, Mangue, who is also the son of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, stated that the cabinet had achieved “barely 10 percent” of its goals.

“The rule is simple: public responsibility has to come with results,” Mangue said. “The state puts significant human, material and financial resources at the disposal of the government to address the needs of the population. So the degree of execution achieved is clearly insufficient in relation to the expectations and commitments undertaken.”

Mangue did not specify the exact targets the government had been set.

President Mbasogo, who has ruled Equatorial Guinea since 1979 and is the world’s longest-serving leader, appointed the outgoing government in 2024. Manuel Osa Nsue Nsua, a former longtime head of the National Bank of Equatorial Guinea, was named prime minister and tasked with implementing economic reforms aimed at benefiting the country’s poorest populations.

Despite these efforts, the country’s economy has continued to face a prolonged slowdown, driven by declining oil production, reduced investment, and external shocks. Equatorial Guinea remains heavily dependent on petroleum, with oil and gas accounting for the vast majority of its exports and government revenues.

In a statement, the ruling Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (PDGE) said the president was dissatisfied with the outgoing government’s management. Mbasogo reportedly criticized the cabinet for failing to implement policies to diversify the economy, particularly in the agricultural sector, which could reduce reliance on imported goods that can be produced locally.

A new government is expected to be appointed in the coming days.

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Kano State Approves N1.5 Billion for Mass Wedding of 3,000 Couples

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The Kano State Government has earmarked N1.5 billion for a forthcoming mass wedding programme targeting 3,000 beneficiaries, officials announced on Monday.

Commander-General of the Kano State Hisbah Board, Sheikh Ibrahim Daurawa, disclosed the funding while briefing journalists on preparations for the event.

“The Kano State Government is to spend N1.5bn on the entire mass wedding programme which will soon be conducted in the state,” Daurawa said.

According to him, the allocation will cover furniture, food items, dowry, clothing materials for the couples, and a N100,000 capital grant to each bride, among other expenses.

The Hisbah Board, in collaboration with the State Ministry of Health, has already commenced mandatory medical screening for prospective couples to determine their health status. The screenings include tests for hepatitis, pregnancy, HIV, genotype, and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Daurawa revealed that no fewer than 5,000 people applied for the programme, out of which 3,000 will be selected following the completion of the medical exercise.

He commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for initiating the programme and stated that the governor is expected to announce the date for the mass wedding soon.

The medical screening began on Monday, May 8, 2026, involving prospective couples from 24 of the state’s 44 local government areas.

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Police Probe Alleged INEC Data Leak, Arrest Electoral Officer, Question Wike’s Aide

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The Nigeria Police Force has launched an investigation into the alleged unauthorised access and disclosure of classified voter information from the database of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), leading to the arrest of an electoral officer and the interrogation of a media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

Senior police sources confirmed on Wednesday that operatives of the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) are investigating allegations of database misuse, cyber-related offences and the unlawful disclosure of sensitive electoral records belonging to INEC.

As part of the ongoing probe, an INEC electoral officer, whose identity has not been made public, has been taken into custody. Investigators also questioned Mr. Lere Olayinka, media aide to the FCT Minister, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.

The investigation reportedly followed a petition filed on behalf of INEC, alleging criminal conspiracy, cyber intimidation and the unlawful release of classified electoral documents.

The controversy stemmed from social media posts by Olayinka in which he shared screenshots purportedly showing details of a voter registration transfer involving Nollywood actor and politician Emeka Ike from Imo State to the Federal Capital Territory.

The disclosure came amid debates over Ike’s eligibility to contest a House of Representatives seat in the FCT following his criticism of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) primary process.

The posts generated widespread reactions, with many Nigerians questioning how the information was obtained and alleging that it could only have originated from INEC’s restricted voter registration database.

Reacting to the incident on Tuesday, Independent National Electoral Commission denied reports that its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) database had been hacked or breached. The commission maintained that the disclosure resulted from the misuse of legitimate internal access credentials by an authorised official.

According to investigation findings, the detained electoral officer allegedly contacted Olayinka through Facebook Messenger before forwarding voter registration documents to him via WhatsApp.

The documents were reportedly intended to show that Emeka Ike’s voter transfer request had recently been initiated and was yet to receive final approval.

Sources familiar with the investigation said Olayinka told investigators he had no prior relationship with the INEC official and was unaware that the documents shared with him were classified.

He reportedly maintained that the electoral officer never informed him that the information was confidential or restricted.

Meanwhile, the Department of State Services has commenced a parallel investigation into the circumstances surrounding the disclosure of the voter information.

Police authorities are said to be considering possible charges against both the INEC official and Olayinka, including criminal conspiracy, cyber-related offences, unlawful disclosure of classified information and actions capable of causing a breach of public peace.

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