Wike Denies Owing Contractors ₦5.2bn, Says Debts Precede His Administration

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has denied allegations by local contractors that his administration owes them over ₦5.2 billion for executed projects.

Contractors had staged a protest at the minister’s gate on Monday, accusing the FCT Administration of non-payment for completed jobs.

Reacting, Wike said the debts being referenced did not originate from his tenure but were the result of unauthorised contracts awarded by civil servants without ministerial approval.

Speaking at the commissioning of the Phase 2 rehabilitation of the Lower Usman Dam in Ushafa, the minister described the protest as “blackmail” meant to pressure him into paying questionable claims.

“Civil servants sit in their offices and award contracts worth ₦10m, ₦15m, or ₦20m without the minister’s knowledge. Then people say the minister is owing ₦15bn. Certainly, that will not happen! Nobody can intimidate me on that,” Wike declared.