Channels Television has officially refuted claims made by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, regarding the acquisition of the land housing its national headquarters in Abuja.
The dispute arose following a media chat on Wednesday, during which Wike questioned the television station’s right to charge the government for live broadcasts while occupying land he described as a “public gift.”
“The land that you built Channels on is public land,” Wike asserted during the broadcast. “You are making money out of public property. Did you buy it? No. It was allocated to you. Am I not going to pay for a live interview? It is not free.”
Responding during its news program on Thursday, the management of Channels Television described the Minister’s remarks as “incorrect” and provided a timeline of the acquisition to set the record straight.
The broadcaster clarified that the plot, located in the Guzape district of Abuja, was legally allocated to the station for commercial purposes on March 6, 2007, by the then-FCT Minister. Crucially, the station emphasized that it did not receive the land for free.
“We can confirm that all required fees and statutory charges connected to the land were fully paid,” the station’s statement read.
Addressing the Minister’s comments on the cost of live airtime, Channels TV defended its commercial model. The station explained that live transmissions require significant technical resources, including the deployment of Outside Broadcasting (OB) vans, dedicated technical crews, and the commitment of premium airtime.
“Our fees are out there. We are a news and broadcast media organisation. If you are going to lock down one, two, or three hours of airtime, of course, you will pay,” the broadcaster noted.
Channels TV further urged the Minister to provide full transparency regarding other land allocations to journalists, insisting that all beneficiaries should be held to the same standard of paying required statutory fees.
Concluding its response, the media house reaffirmed its commitment to journalistic integrity, stating that it would continue to ask “the right questions” and maintain the public trust it has built over the last three decades, regardless of political pressure.
