Mr Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has denied that the Minister awarded N5 billion in contracts.
He criticised the accusation that the contracts were awarded to local contractors as incorrect and devoid of facts.
In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, Olayinka described the assertion as unfounded and urged anyone with evidence to submit official documentation proving such contract approvals.
He explained that in December 2023, a bill for approximately N10 billion was given to the minister as unpaid payments for projects completed by local contractors before Wike took office.
“The category of these projects was referred to as “Shopping” or “Minor Procurement.”
“In the same Dec. 2023, payment of more than N5 billion was approved by the minister and was made immediately.
“In Jan. 2024, an additional payment of more than N5 billion was made, fully clearing the N10 billion outstanding,” Olayinka stated.
He further stated that three months later, another bill of more than N15 billion was submitted, again under the Minor Procurement category, prompting Wike to question who had approved such contracts.
“How can you claim to have carried out jobs worth more than N15 billion within three months, without the minister’s approval?
“How can you accumulate more than N15 billion in debts on contracts within that period?
“From N15 billion to N8 billion and now N5 billion, the question is, on whose authority were these contracts awarded?” he queried.
He stressed that the questions must be answered, insisting that the issue lay in accountability, not speculation.
“Those are the questions they have to answer first,” he said.
