FCT: ‘She has intimidated herself’ – Wike raises three questions for Senator Ireti Kingibe

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has criticized Senator Ireti Kingibe, claiming she is "intimidating herself" due to her inability to effectively manage the capital city. This accusation came during a visit by Wike to the FCT on Thursday, September 24, 2026, where he inspected ongoing infrastructure projects in the satellite towns.

The tension between Kingibe and Wike intensified after Kingibe accused the minister of securing unauthorized external loans for the FCT without the necessary approval from the National Assembly. According to her, she reviewed Debt Management Office (DMO) records from August 2023 to March 2026, and found evidence that Wike's administration proceeded with these loans without obtaining the required Senate clearance.

In response, Wike dismissed her allegations, stating that any government cannot secure a loan without the legislative approval, as it is explicitly captured in the annual FCT budget. He questioned Kingibe about her engagement with satellite town communities and traditional rulers, and the legislative actions she had undertaken on behalf of the territory.

Wike emphasized that his remarks were not meant to intimidate Kingibe, but rather to urge her for accountability. He asked her how many times she had consulted with the communities and traditional rulers in the satellite towns, and how many times she had presented bills to the Senate to address the issues facing Abuja. Wike firmly stated that it was not about intimidation, but rather her non-performance that was causing her to feel intimidated.