Wike Taking Loans for FCT Without National Assembly Approval – Kingibe Alleges

Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, Ireti Kingibe, has alleged that the FCT Administration under Minister Nyesom Wike has been obtaining loans without securing approval from the National Assembly.

Kingibe made the allegation on Tuesday during an interview with Channels Television’s Political Paradigm, where she discussed the administration of the nation’s capital, the Abuja Master Plan and the oversight responsibilities of the National Assembly.

According to the senator, records from the Debt Management Office indicated that loans had been obtained for the FCT between August 2023 and March 2026.

She, however, claimed that Wike had not appeared before the Senate to seek approval for the borrowing.

Kingibe expressed concern over what she described as a failure to adequately subject the FCT Administration’s borrowing activities to legislative scrutiny.

“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.

The senator explained that the National Assembly was expected to provide oversight and approve borrowing arrangements involving the FCT.

She said she had raised the matter with the leadership of the Senate after reviewing information she said was contained in DMO records.

“We’re supposed to approve, and I have brought to the attention of the leadership of the Senate that the FCT is borrowing money,” Kingibe said.

She further alleged that Wike had never appeared before the Senate to formally request approval for FCT borrowing since assuming office as minister.

According to her, the minister had appeared before the Senate Committee on the FCT, but she questioned whether such appearances amounted to the required legislative approval for 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.

Kingibe’s comments come amid ongoing debates over the administration and financing of major infrastructure projects in Abuja.

The senator’s allegation is expected to generate further discussion over the extent of the National Assembly’s oversight of FCT finances and whether borrowing undertaken by the territory complied with applicable legal and constitutional requirements.