Wike’s aide: Ex-naval chief was duped, disputed land meant for park

Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Publicity and Communication to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, says the land being developed by a former Chief of Naval Staff, Awwal Gambo, in Abuja was originally designated for park and recreation, not residential use.

Olayinka, in a statement on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, disclosed that the disputed land was allocated to Santos Estate Limited in 2007 for park and recreation purposes.

Olayinka said the company, in 2022, applied to the then FCT Minister for approval to convert the land use from park to residential.

He stated: “While still waiting for response to this request, the company decided to partition the land and sell to people, including the former Chief of Naval Staff.

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“The then FCT Minister declined the request to change the land use purpose from park and recreation to residential.

“Meanwhile, Santos Estate Limited already sold the land to unsuspecting people, including the former CNS, who is building duplexes on his own.

“Like I said earlier, shouldn’t the former Chief of Naval Staff be more concerned with the person who scammed him rather than using military might hold on to a property on which he was duped?”

Wike was involved in a confrontation with naval officers over the disputed land in Abuja on Tuesday, a development which has since been eliciting reactions from Nigerians.

The Star