Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has rejected a claim by Ireti Kingibe, the senator representing the FCT, that he secures loans without approval from the National Assembly.
Kingibe had alleged in August that Wike was obtaining loans without parliamentary approval, saying she had raised the matter with the Senate leadership.
“I have never seen Wike come to the national assembly and before the senate to ask for approval of anything,” she said.
However, while inspecting road projects in Abuja on Tuesday, Wike dismissed Kingibe’s claim, saying it showed a lack of understanding of the process for securing government loans.
The FCT minister also said Kingibe would not return to the Senate in 2027, claiming she has “nothing to offer to the people of the FCT”.
“There is no way you 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 and state that, in this aspect of the budget, the government will take out a loan,” he said.
“I don’t want to comment about her. She is already packing her things out. The people of the FCT have made their choice. They are going to support president Tinubu and Philip Aduda for senate.”
Wike further alleged that Kingibe had “failed in all ramifications” as a senator and had not delivered meaningful development to residents of the Federal Capital Territory.
He argued that Kingibe’s focus should instead have been on whether borrowed funds were being properly used for infrastructure projects and whether the projects were benefiting FCT residents.
Earlier this month, Philip Agbese, Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, said Wike followed due process in securing loans for the Federal Capital Territory.
Agbese, who represents the Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue State, said the FCT minister had not violated any law by borrowing to finance projects and programmes in the capital.
Wike and Kingibe have continued to disagree publicly over the administration of the FCT, with both politicians exchanging criticisms.