Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has defended the administration’s borrowing for infrastructure projects, saying the focus should be on whether borrowed funds are being used to improve the lives of residents.
The minister was reacting to criticism over alleged FCT borrowings without the approval of the National Assembly, an issue recently raised by Senator Ireti Kingibe, who represents the FCT in the Senate.
Kingibe had questioned the legality of the alleged borrowings, saying she had not seen Wike appear before the Senate to seek approval for a loan.
The claim has also drawn a response from Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, who said Wike had not committed any infraction and had subjected the FCT Administration to legislative scrutiny.
However, responding to questions from journalists after inspecting some ongoing road projects across the FCT on Tuesday, Wike said there was no way government could obtain a loan without the necessary legislative approval, while arguing that the more important issue was how the funds were being applied.
“There’s no way you can go and take a loan without the approval of the National Assembly. Anyone, take a loan, you will include it in the budget that this aspect of this budget, that government is going to collect loan.”
He added that his concern was to ensure that borrowed funds were deployed to projects that serve residents.
“I thought she would criticize that I’m doing nothing. I thought she would criticize that I’m doing nothing. So if my problem is that I took a loan, if I took a loan, I’m using it to work. What her concern should have been is, are we applying the loan to work for the interest of residents?”
Wike’s defence came as he inspected the progress of work along the Wuye-Mbora road, Tunga Madaki to Zuba and Kagini, off the Old Keffi Road, which he expressed satisfaction with the pace of work and the commitment of the contractors handling them.
He said the projects were expected to meet their scheduled completion targets, despite delays caused by the rainy season, adding that he was now confident the contractors would deliver.
“I was having a doubt, but the contractors are fully committed. But for the rains, I know they would have gone far. I believe that from the first week of October, the rains will not be much again, and you will see how all of them will go with standard. I’m very, very assured that they’ll meet up with the December schedule.”
Wike is confident that the completed projects would have significant economic impact, particularly on residents of communities that had long faced poor road connectivity.
He described the expected completion of the projects as part of what he called President Bola Tinubu’s “Christmas gift” to FCT residents, saying improved access would enable residents to travel home and stimulate economic activity.
“They have always said that by the grace of God, they will meet up the schedule, which is December. We have promised the residents that this will be their Christmas gift by Mr. President, and this will be part of their Christmas gift, so that they go back home, enjoy their Christmas holiday, and as you can see, you can imagine the happiness of those who stay here. You can know that economically, things will change.”
