Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, has fired back at Senator Ireti Kingibe over allegations that the FCT Administration obtained loans to fund capital projects without the approval of the National Assembly.
Wike dismissed the allegation, insisting that any borrowing by government for capital projects must be captured in the budget and subjected to the appropriate legislative process.
The minister spoke in Abuja on Tuesday after inspecting some ongoing projects across the Federal Capital Territory.
Wike questioned how any government official could obtain a loan for public projects without the involvement of the National Assembly.
“That’s why she’s not going back to the Senate. Do non-lawyers know where we can go and take a loan without the approval of the National Assembly?
“If you want to take a loan, you will include it in the budget. It is part of the budget that we are going to collect a loan to execute some projects in the FCT,” he said.
The minister also linked the controversy to the scale of infrastructure development currently taking place across Abuja, saying the focus should be on whether funds allocated for projects are being properly utilised.
“I thought she criticised that I’m doing nothing. So now her problem is that I took a loan.
“Assuming I took a loan, our concern should have been: are we applying the loan to fulfil the interest of residents?” Wike asked.
Wike further commented on Kingibe’s political future, saying residents of the FCT had made their choice ahead of the 2027 elections.
He said he would continue to support President Bola Tinubu and former FCT Senator Philip Aduda.
“She’s already packing her things out. The people have made a choice; they are going to support President Tinubu and Aduda. So let us not waste our time reacting to an ex-senator in all ramifications,” Wike said.
Kingibe had alleged that the FCT Administration secured loans for capital projects without obtaining the required approval of the National Assembly.
Wike, however, maintained that borrowing for FCT projects would have to be provided for in the budget and pass through the appropriate legislative process.
The minister has continued to defend the FCT Administration’s infrastructure programme, with several major road projects across the territory scheduled for completion in December.
