Wike Has Committed No Infraction In Borrowings, Says Rep
The Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, has dismissed allegations that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, obtained loans for the territory without the approval of the National Assembly.
He was reacting to recent allegations by Senator Ireti Kingibe, who represents the FCT in the National Assembly, that the FCT Administration had engaged in borrowings without securing the required legislative approval.
Kingibe had said she raised the matter with the leadership of the Senate after reviewing information obtained from the Debt Management Office, covering the period between August 2023 and March 2026.
Speaking on a Channels Television programme, the senator said she was yet to see Wike appear before the Senate to seek approval for any loan.
“I have never seen Wike come to the National Assembly and before the Senate to ask for approval of anything,” Kingibe said.
She explained that FCT budgets were presented to the Senate through the relevant committee before being considered and approved by the chamber.
According to her, her concerns about the FCT’s debt profile arose from information contained in documents from the DMO.
However, Agbese, speaking with journalists in Abuja on Thursday, said it was misleading to suggest that Wike had circumvented the National Assembly or acted outside established procedures in obtaining funds for projects in the FCT.
The lawmaker said public borrowing was governed by constitutional, statutory and administrative processes involving relevant government institutions, adding that the FCT minister could not unilaterally create a sovereign borrowing obligation.
“Wike has committed no infraction in borrowings. There is no basis for the allegation that he has been borrowing money behind the back of the National Assembly,” Agbese said.
He said Wike had consistently subjected the administration of the FCT to legislative scrutiny, particularly through the presentation and consideration of its budgets and appearances before relevant committees of the National Assembly.
Agbese argued that an increase in the FCT’s debt profile could not, by itself, be taken as evidence of an illegal borrowing arrangement, particularly in view of the scale of infrastructure projects undertaken by the administration since Wike assumed office.
The projects, he said, include major road construction and rehabilitation, transportation infrastructure and other capital projects across Abuja.
He maintained that borrowing for infrastructure development was not unlawful in itself, provided the prescribed approvals and procedures were followed.
“The critical issue is whether the required approvals and procedures have been followed,” he added.
He also rejected the suggestion that Wike had operated without legislative oversight, saying the National Assembly had continued to exercise its constitutional oversight functions over the FCT Administration.
“Under our searchlight, the FCT Minister is one of the most legislatively compliant public servants. He has consistently engaged the National Assembly and subjected the activities of the FCT Administration to legislative scrutiny,” he said.
Agbese urged lawmakers and other stakeholders to base allegations concerning public borrowing on specific transactions and official documents rather than political claims.
He said where there were concerns over particular borrowing arrangements, Senator Kingibe or any other interested party should identify the transactions in question and invite the relevant authorities to provide the documents and approvals governing them.
The lawmaker also cautioned against conflating the responsibilities of the FCT Minister with those of the Federal Government and other institutions responsible for public finance, borrowing and debt management.
He said Wike’s stewardship of the nation’s capital should be assessed not only on the basis of the territory’s debt profile but also on the projects executed, the processes followed and the impact of the administration’s interventions.
The exchange has further deepened the public disagreement between Kingibe and the FCT Administration over the management and financing of development projects in Abuja.
While Kingibe has repeatedly raised concerns over transparency, budget implementation and the administration’s financial commitments, the FCT Administration has maintained that its activities are being carried out within the framework of existing laws and government procedures.
