The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has firmly denied allegations that he awarded contracts worth ₦5 billion to local contractors, calling the claims false and unsupported.
In a statement released on Monday, August 18, 2025, by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, the minister challenged those making the accusations to provide documentary evidence.
“No contract was awarded by Minister Nyesom Wike to any local contractor,” Olayinka stated.
“If anyone claims otherwise, they should produce the documents showing that he approved such contracts.”
Olayinka clarified that in December 2023, shortly after Wike assumed office, the Ministry received claims totaling around ₦10 billion from local contractors for work they said had already been done under the category of “Shopping” or Minor Procurement, projects allegedly carried out before Wike took office.
According to Olayinka, the Minister approved and ensured payment of over ₦5 billion in December 2023, and another ₦5 billion-plus in January 2024, effectively clearing the ₦10 billion backlog.
However, by March 2024, another bill surfaced, this time over ₦15 billion, also allegedly for “Minor Procurement” work done in the preceding months.
“The Minister then raised concerns,” Olayinka said.
“Who approved these fresh contracts? Because Minister Wike did not. It’s unrealistic that in just three months, contracts worth over ₦15 billion could be executed without his knowledge or authorization.”
He further noted inconsistencies in the figures being circulated.
“We’ve seen the claims drop from ₦15 billion to ₦8 billion, and now to ₦5 billion. The core question remains: who approved these contracts? That’s what they must explain first.”
Wike’s office insists that the Minister is committed to transparency and will not be coerced into validating undocumented expenditures or questionable claims.
