Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed reports that the minister awarded N5 billion worth of contracts.
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In a statement issued Monday in Abuja, Olayinka described the claims as baseless, insisting that no such approvals were given by Wike. He challenged anyone with proof to present official documents showing the alleged contract awards.
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He clarified that in December 2023, a bill of about N10 billion was presented to Wike for projects executed by local contractors before he assumed office. The projects fell under the “Shopping” or “Minor Procurement” category.
LIST OF APPLICATIONS FOR REGULARISATION OF AREA COUNCIL LAND DOCUMENTS NULLIFIED/CANCELLED BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF FCT
According to him, Wike approved the settlement of the backlog, with more than N5 billion paid in December 2023 and another N5 billion in January 2024, clearing the outstanding N10 billion.
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Olayinka further disclosed that three months later, another bill exceeding N15 billion was submitted under the same category. This, he said, prompted Wike to demand answers on who approved such contracts.
“How can you claim to have executed jobs worth over N15 billion within three months without the minister’s approval? How can debts of that magnitude be accumulated under Minor Procurement?” Olayinka queried.
He maintained that the real issue was accountability and transparency, not speculation.
“From N15 billion to N8 billion and now N5 billion, the question remains: on whose authority were these contracts awarded? Those are the questions they must answer first,” he added.
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