Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed Senator Ireti Kingibe’s allegation that the FCT Administration obtained loans without approval from the National Assembly.
Kingibe, who represents the FCT in the Senate, had raised concerns over the loans, saying she had not seen the minister appear before the National Assembly to seek approval for them.
Reacting on Tuesday while inspecting ongoing road projects in Abuja, Wike said government borrowing for projects must be captured in the budget and subjected to the required legislative process.
He argued that the focus should instead be on whether borrowed funds were being used to execute infrastructure projects for the benefit of FCT residents.
Wike also criticised Kingibe over her comments, saying her position showed a lack of understanding of how government borrowing works.
The minister further said Kingibe would not return to the Senate in 2027 and expressed support for former senator Philip Aduda in the forthcoming election.
The controversy comes amid an ongoing disagreement between Wike and Kingibe over the administration and development of the FCT.
Earlier, Deputy Spokesman of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, had also dismissed the allegation, saying there was no evidence that Wike violated the required procedures in financing FCT projects.
