The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims by local contractors that his administration owes them N5.2bn. He insisted that the debts arose from contracts irregularly awarded by civil servants without ministerial approval.
On Monday, contractors staged a protest at the minister’s gate, claiming that the FCT Administration owed them N5.2bn for executed projects.
However, Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Lere Olayinka, countered the claims, stating that the minister had not awarded any new contracts since assuming office and had already cleared a N10bn backlog inherited from his predecessor.
At the inauguration of Phase 2 rehabilitation works at the Lower Usman Dam in Ushafa, on Tuesday, Wike described the protest as blackmail spearheaded by corrupt officials using fronts to push questionable claims.
“I came on board and people were already shouting that local contractors were being owed N5bn, N8bn. I asked, who awarded these contracts? Civil servants sit in their offices and award contracts of N10m, N15m, N20m without the minister’s knowledge. Then they turn around to say the minister is owing N15bn. That will never happen! Nobody can intimidate me on that,” Wike said.
He alleged that the so-called contractors were merely hired protesters. He stated that his administration would only honour properly awarded contracts backed by available funding.
“If I award contracts, I will pay. But I don’t award contracts without money. Even the Federal Executive Council awarded some, and I told them to hold on until funds were available. Let nobody say I borrowed money,” he said.
The minister challenged his critics, demanding proof that he personally awarded any of the disputed contracts.
“Let anyone who claims I awarded a contract produce the documents. If I didn’t, why should I be held responsible? We must do things right. If it wasn’t done properly before, it doesn’t mean it won’t be done properly today,” he declared.
He condemned the practice of splitting projects into small sums—N10m, N15m, N25m—saying it was a ploy by civil servants to embezzle funds without meaningful results.
He said he will not to bow to pressure or continue the “business as usual” culture of reckless spending and inflated contracts.
“You cannot embarrass me. Go and meet those who awarded you contracts and tell them your children are out of school. It’s not my business,” the minister said.
