Wike Faults Kingibe Over FCT Loan Allegation, Says Borrowing Must Get NASS Approval

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed allegations by Senator Ireti Kingibe that the FCT Administration secured loans for capital projects without approval from the National Assembly.

Wike spoke in Abuja on Tuesday after inspecting ongoing projects in the territory.

He said it was impossible for any government official to obtain a loan without following due legislative process, explaining that such borrowings must be captured in the budget and considered by the National Assembly.

“That’s why she’s not going back to the Senate. Do non-lawyers know where we 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. It is part of the budget that we are going to collect a loan to execute some projects in the FCT,” Wike said.

The minister said the controversy was linked to the scale of infrastructure development currently ongoing across Abuja.

“I thought she criticised that I’m doing nothing. So now her problem is that I took a loan,” he said.

According to him, the focus should be on whether funds allocated or borrowed are being judiciously applied for the benefit of FCT residents.

“Assuming I took a loan, our concern should have been: are we applying the loan to fulfil the interest of residents?” he queried.

Wike also took a swipe at Kingibe’s political future, saying FCT residents had made their choice ahead of the 2027 elections, adding that he would continue to support President Bola Tinubu and former FCT Senator, Philip Aduda.

His reaction followed Kingibe’s claim that the FCT Administration obtained loans for capital projects without statutory approval from the National Assembly.