Wike Says N52bn Contract Claims Traced To Corrupt Officials

Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed allegations that his administration owes local contractors N5.2 billion, stating that the debts came from contracts illegally awarded by civil servants without proper approval.

The controversy began on Monday when some contractors staged a protest at the minister’s residence, accusing the FCT Administration of refusing to pay for completed projects worth billions. They claimed that the unpaid funds had left them stranded.

Wike’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, responded by clarifying that the minister has not awarded any new contracts since taking office. Instead, he said Wike has already cleared about N10 billion in debts left behind by the previous administration. He stressed that the current protest was driven by vested interests trying to force the minister’s hand.

Speaking at the inauguration of the second phase of rehabilitation works at the Lower Usman Dam in Ushafa on Tuesday, Wike described the protest as a smear campaign organised by corrupt insiders. He accused civil servants of using fronts to make dubious claims over contracts he never approved.

He explained that some officials had a habit of sitting in their offices and awarding contracts worth millions without ministerial knowledge. These same officials, he alleged, later turned around to hold the minister responsible for debts running into billions.

The FCT Minister maintained that his administration would only recognise contracts properly processed and backed with available funding. He said he does not award projects without securing money to pay, and has even advised the Federal Executive Council to delay certain contracts until funds are in place.

Wike challenged anyone alleging otherwise to produce evidence showing he signed off on the disputed contracts. He said accountability must guide government spending, warning that the old practice of inflating and splitting projects into smaller sums just to drain public funds will no longer be tolerated.

He made it clear that he would not be intimidated by protests or public pressure, insisting that those who benefitted from illegal awards must take responsibility for them. According to him, his administration will not continue with the “business as usual” approach that allowed frivolous spending and padded contracts to thrive.

By taking a tough stance, Wike has positioned himself against entrenched interests within the FCT, signaling a break from past practices as he moves to reform contract administration in the territory.