Senator Ireti Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the National Assembly, has accused FCT Minister Nyesom Wike of securing loans for the territory without the required approval of the National Assembly, particularly the Senate.
The allegation has escalated an already frosty relationship between the two officials and drawn responses from the Senate, the House of Representatives, and Wike himself.
Kingibe made the claim during an appearance on Channels Television’s Political Paradigm in late August 2026. She said she reviewed records from the Debt Management Office (DMO) covering the period from August 2023 to March 2026 and found that the FCT had taken on significant borrowings.
According to figures cited in media reports of her comments, the FCT’s domestic debt rose from approximately ₦88.51 billion in September 2023—shortly after Wike assumed office—to ₦389.88 billion by March 31, 2026, an increase of roughly ₦301 billion.
“I am definitely saying Wike has been taking loans without the approval of the National Assembly,” Kingibe stated.
“I have never seen Wike come to the National Assembly and before the Senate to ask for approval of anything. 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.”
She noted that FCT budgets are normally presented through the relevant Senate committee for consideration and approval, but insisted the same process had not been followed for the loans. Kingibe challenged critics to produce the Votes and Proceedings of any Senate sitting at which Wike sought such approval.
The Senate pushed back. Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, said no such unapproved facility existed to the knowledge of the Red Chamber and called on Kingibe to provide evidence. He described the claims as unsubstantiated and capable of heating up the polity.
In the House of Representatives, Deputy Spokesperson Philip Agbese rejected the allegation, stating that Wike had committed no infraction. Agbese said public borrowing follows constitutional, statutory and administrative processes involving relevant institutions and that the FCT Minister could not unilaterally create sovereign borrowing obligations.
He advised that any concerns be backed by specific transactions and official documents rather than general political claims.
On Tuesday, September 22, 2026, Wike directly dismissed the senator’s allegations while inspecting ongoing road and infrastructure projects in Abuja.
He argued that it is impossible to obtain a government loan without National Assembly approval because any proposed borrowing must be reflected in the budget, which itself requires legislative passage.
“There’s no way you 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,” Wike said. He added that the more relevant question should be whether any borrowed funds are being applied to projects that serve FCT residents, noting the visible infrastructure works underway under his administration.
Wike also criticised Kingibe’s understanding of legislative and public finance processes and repeated earlier statements that she would not return to the Senate in 2027, claiming residents prefer continuity with the current direction of development.
The loan dispute is the latest chapter in a long-running public disagreement between Kingibe and Wike that dates back to 2023. Earlier tensions included disputes over demolitions, communication breakdowns, and a heated telephone exchange over a curfew imposed ahead of area council elections, which required intervention by Senate President Godswill Akpabio via a three-way call.
As of now, neither side has released a detailed public breakdown of the specific loan facilities in question beyond the overall DMO debt figures cited by Kingibe. The exchange continues to fuel debate over transparency, legislative oversight of the FCT Administration, and the financing of Abuja’s rapid infrastructure expansion.
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