The office of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed reports claiming that the Minister awarded N5 billion contracts to local contractors.
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According to the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, no such contracts were awarded by the Minister, and anyone making such claims should provide documentary evidence.
Olayinka explained that in December 2023, shortly after Wike assumed office, a bill of about N10 billion was presented to the Minister as outstanding payments for jobs allegedly executed by local contractors under what was described as “Shopping” or “Minor Procurement.”
“The Minister approved and effected payment of over N5 billion in December 2023, and in January 2024, another payment of more than N5 billion was made, thereby clearing the outstanding N10 billion,” Olayinka said.
However, he noted that three months later, another bill of over N15 billion was presented to the Minister under the same Minor Procurement category. This, he said, raised concerns as to who awarded the contracts since Wike had not done so.
“How can anyone claim to have executed jobs worth over N15 billion within three months without the approval of the Minister? How was a debt of that magnitude accumulated?” Olayinka queried.
He further stated that the figures being bandied around — from N15 billion, to N8 billion, and now N5 billion — raise questions about the legitimacy of the contracts.
“The issue is simple: on whose authority were these contracts awarded? That is the question that must be answered,” he added.
