Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, has dismissed claims that Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, obtained loans to finance projects in Abuja without the approval of the National Assembly.
Agbese, who represents a constituency in Benue State on the platform of the Labour Party, said there was no evidence that Wike had violated any law in financing projects under the FCT Administration. He described the minister as one of the public officials who had consistently subjected the administration of the territory to legislative scrutiny.
The lawmaker was reacting to comments by the Senator representing the FCT, Ireti Kingibe, who raised concerns over alleged borrowings by the FCT Administration.
Kingibe had said she brought the matter to the attention of the Senate leadership, noting that she had never seen Wike appear before the Senate to seek approval for a loan. She also said FCT budgets were presented to the relevant Senate committee before being considered and approved by the chamber.
According to the senator, she discovered the alleged borrowings while reviewing information from the Debt Management Office covering the period between August 2023 and March 2026.
Responding to the allegation in Abuja on Thursday, Agbese described the claim as misleading. He argued that the FCT minister could not independently create a sovereign borrowing obligation outside the constitutional and administrative framework governing public borrowing.
“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 maintained that Wike had regularly engaged with the National Assembly through the presentation and consideration of FCT budgets, as well as appearances before relevant committees.
Agbese also cautioned against interpreting an increase in the FCT’s debt profile as proof of wrongdoing, particularly in view of the scale of infrastructure projects being executed across Abuja.
He listed road construction and rehabilitation, transportation infrastructure and other development projects among the major interventions undertaken by the FCT Administration.
The deputy spokesperson said borrowing to finance infrastructure was not, by itself, an offence, stressing that the key consideration was whether the required approvals and procedures had been followed.
“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 the legislature’s oversight activities to be based on documents, facts and established procedures rather than political allegations.
He said any specific borrowing transaction considered unlawful should be identified so that the relevant authorities could be invited to provide the documentation and processes governing it.
The lawmaker further cautioned against conflating the responsibilities of the FCT minister with those of the Federal Government and other institutions responsible for public finance and debt management.
He said Wike’s record in Abuja should ultimately be assessed on the projects executed, the procedures followed and their measurable impact.
