Channels TV Fires Back At Wike, Dares Minister To Name Journalists Who Got Abuja Lands

Channels Television has pushed back against claims by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, that the priavte broadcaster was profiting from land allocated to it in Abuja’s Guzape district, insisting that the allegation was inaccurate and misleading.

The rebuttal was issued during the station’s first breakfast show, ‘The Morning Brief’ on Thursday, where the show anchor, Kayode Okikiolu, addressed the controversy stemming from Wike’s remarks at his monthly media chat earlier on Wednesday.

Recall that Wike had challenged a Channels TV reporter during the session, questioning the station’s integrity and suggesting that journalists, including those at the network, had benefited from land allocations in the Federal Capital Territory.

“Have you seen the list of those to whom we allocated land? It’s because these ones became public. Do you know how many people working at Channels TV that have land? Did you come here to interview for free? I am not going to pay for the live interview,” the minister had said.

But, responding to the minister’s outburst, Channels Television dismissed the claims that it was making money from land in Guzape district of Abuja, clarifying that the property housing its national headquarters was lawfully acquired nearly two decades ago.

“Channels Television has now released an official rebuttal to the statement that was made by the FCT minister that Channels is making money from the land allocated to it in Guzape. It is not correct. The property which houses our national headquarters in the Guzape area of Abuja was allocated to CTV (Channels Television) on March 6, 2007, 19 years ago for commercial purposes by the then FCT minister, and we can confirm that all required fees and charges were fully paid,” the station stated.

The broadcaster also addressed concerns raised about payments for media appearances, noting that its operations require significant logistical investment.

“Secondly, the point made about Channels and other media houses being paid for that media chat; of course, we gave full disclosure that the media chat is a live coverage. To get that to our viewers, stations deploy outside broadcasting vans and crews of up to six or more. Our fees are out there. We are a news and broadcast organisation. If we are to lock down one to three hours of airtime, of course you pay, and you get value for it,” he said.

Channels TV further emphasised its editorial independence, pledging to continue asking tough questions regardless of external pressure.

“We will ensure to ask the right questions, which is what we did yesterday, and we will stay on those questions. We will not allow any form of deflection. The questions will be asked, and we will ensure that we guard the trust we have built over 30 years as a media organisation based on credibility and balance,” Okikiolu added.

On the broader issue of land allocations to journalists, the network called on the FCT Administration to provide greater transparency.

“It is important for the FCT minister to come out fully and tell us what the land is for exactly, who got the land, and ensure that the appropriate fees are paid,” the anchor said.