Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ireti Kingibe, has alleged that Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, has been obtaining loans for the nation’s capital without securing the approval of the National Assembly.
Kingibe made the allegation while speaking on Channels Television’s Political Paradigm, where she discussed the administration of the FCT, the Abuja Master Plan and the oversight responsibilities of lawmakers.
The senator said she based her position on records from the Debt Management Office (DMO), which she said showed borrowings involving the FCT between August 2023 and March 2026.
“I am definitely saying he has been taking loans without the approval of the National Assembly. I don’t know about the House, but certainly not the Senate,” Kingibe said.
She said she had already brought the matter to the attention of the Senate leadership, arguing that lawmakers have an oversight role over the FCT Administration.
“I’m sorry to say, with all due respect to the Senate, of which I’m a member, we’re supposed to oversee him. We’re supposed to approve, and I have brought to the attention of the leadership of the Senate that the FCT is borrowing money,” she said.
Kingibe further alleged that she had not seen Wike appear before the full Senate to seek approval for any borrowing.
“I have never seen Wike come to the National Assembly, come before the Senate, to ask for approval for anything. He comes before the FCT Committee, and that’s the only time it ever sat,” she said.
She challenged anyone disputing her allegation to produce the relevant parliamentary records.
“If anybody contradicts me, they should bring the Votes and Proceedings of the day that Wike came to the National Assembly to ask for approval for anything,” Kingibe said.
