Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ireti Kingibe, has alleged that FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has secured loans for the nation’s capital without obtaining the required approval of the National Assembly.
Kingibe made the allegation on Tuesday during an interview with Channels Television’s Political Paradigm, while discussing the administration of the FCT, the Abuja master plan and the oversight role 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, the borrowing occurred despite the minister not appearing before the Senate to seek authorisation for the loans.
“I am definitely saying Wike has been taking loans without the approval of the National Assembly.
“I’m sorry to say, with all due respect to the Senate, of which I’m a member, we’re supposed to oversee him.
“We’re supposed to approve, and I have brought to the attention of the leadership of the Senate that the FCT is borrowing money.
“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 said the issue raised questions about the effectiveness of legislative oversight over the FCT administration, stressing that lawmakers are expected to scrutinise and approve borrowing undertaken on behalf of the territory.
She said she had already drawn the attention of the Senate leadership to the alleged borrowing, as part of her efforts to ensure that the FCT administration operates within the framework of its statutory obligations and legislative oversight.
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