Channels Television has dismissed claims made by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, concerning the ownership of the land housing the station’s headquarters in Abuja.
During a media chat on Wednesday, Wike questioned the allocation of the property located in Guzape, arguing that the media organisation was benefiting from public property allocated by the government.
“The land that you built Channels on is public land. You are making money out of public property. Did you buy it? No. It was allocated to you,” the minister said.
Wike also defended payments made for the live broadcast of the media chat, stating that media organisations do not provide such coverage free of charge.
Responding during its broadcast on Thursday, Channels Television described the minister’s comments as inaccurate, insisting that the property was legally allocated to the station for commercial purposes on March 6, 2007.
According to the station, all statutory fees and charges related to the land were fully paid.
“It is not correct. The property which houses our national headquarters in the Guzape area of Abuja was allocated to CTV on March 6, 2007, for commercial purposes by the then FCT minister,” the station stated.
“We can confirm that all required fees and charges were fully paid.”
The broadcaster also defended the fees charged for airing the minister’s live media chat, explaining that such broadcasts involve technical logistics, including outside broadcasting vans, technical crew deployment, and airtime usage.
“Our fees are out there. We are a news and broadcast media organisation. So, if you are going to lock down one, two, or three hours of airtime, of course you will pay,” the statement added.
Channels Television further maintained that it would continue to uphold professionalism and ask “the right questions” while protecting the credibility and trust it has built over the years.
The station also called on the FCT minister to clarify allegations relating to land allocations involving journalists, insisting that any charges connected to such allocations should be duly paid.
The Cable
