Senator Ireti Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has accused the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, of obtaining loans for the nation’s capital without securing approval from the National Assembly.
Drivetvnews gathered that Kingibe made the allegation on Tuesday during an interview with Channels Television’s Political Paradigm, while discussing the administration of the FCT, Abuja’s master plan and the oversight responsibilities of lawmakers.
The senator claimed that records from the Debt Management Office (DMO) showed that loans had been obtained for the FCT between August 2023 and March 2026.
According to her, Wike had not appeared before the Senate to seek approval for the alleged borrowings during that period.
“I am definitely saying Wike has been taking loans without the approval of the National Assembly,” Kingibe said.
She expressed concern that despite the Senate’s constitutional oversight responsibilities over the FCT administration, the minister had not appeared before the chamber to seek approval for borrowing.
“I’m sorry to say, with all due respect to the Senate, of which I’m a member, we’re supposed to oversee him,” she said.
Kingibe explained that she had already brought the issue to the attention of the Senate leadership, stressing that the FCT’s alleged borrowing activities required proper legislative scrutiny.
“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 stated.
The senator further claimed that Wike had never appeared before the Senate to request approval for borrowing, although he had appeared before the Senate committee responsible for FCT affairs.
“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,” Kingibe added.
Her comments are likely to intensify the ongoing debate over the FCT administration’s finances and the extent of National Assembly oversight over borrowing and major projects in Abuja.
The allegations had not been accompanied in the report by a response from Wike or the FCT administration.
