The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has raised alarm over the complex nature of security challenges facing Nigeria’s capital city and called for a coordinated national approach to address it effectively.

Speaking while answering questions from Senators during the defence of the FCT’s N1.78 trillion budget at the National Assembly on Wednesday, Wike said the FCT’s unique status as the host of the Presidency, National Assembly, and foreign diplomatic missions makes it impossible to run it as an autonomous entity like other states.

“You cannot talk about autonomy in a city where the President resides, where the Inspector-General of Police, the National Security Adviser, and every corporate head of the country operate from. The security of this city is not something we can handle alone,” Wike said.

The minister stressed that the FCT Administration has been collaborating with key federal agencies including the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Inspector-General of Police, pointing out that “this city requires total security architecture because of its national importance. We’ve begun serious collaboration with national security agencies. We can’t afford failure in this area,” he added.

Wike also expressed frustration over the lack of functional surveillance infrastructure, such as CCTV cameras in the city and blamed the situation on political sabotage and bureaucratic bottlenecks.

“You wonder why we still can’t have effective CCTV coverage in the capital. Sometimes, it’s internal politics; sometimes it’s outright sabotage. Even when projects are approved, you find people who deliberately frustrate implementation,” he said.

He cautioned critics pushing for FCT autonomy to consider the constitutional and security implications, warning that a naïve view of governance in the territory could lead to operational chaos.

“The FCT is not like any other state. You don’t have a House of Assembly here; our laws are made by the National Assembly. This setup is by design and cannot be wished away,” Wike clarified.

The Minister called for a multi-sectoral summit involving security, health, and FCT stakeholders to develop a unified roadmap to address the pressing challenges confronting the nation’s capital.
“The issues we face here are complicated and cannot be solved in isolation. We need a coordinated effort that brings all stakeholders together,” he said.

Addressing health concerns, the Minister announced that the FCTA had concluded the procurement of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT) scanners to improve diagnostics in FCT hospitals.

“As of yesterday, we completed procurement processes for an MRI and CT scan machine. These will be delivered to our health facilities soon. It’s part of our effort to improve access to quality medical care in the territory,” he disclosed.

The Minister also defended the FCT Administration’s proposed 2025 statutory budget of ₦1.78 trillion to the Senate Committees on FCT and FCT Area Councils.

While emphasising that 85% of capital votes will be used to complete long-abandoned and ongoing projects across the Territory, he added that the proposed “budget of consolidation” focused on infrastructural continuity and service delivery in both the city centre and satellite towns.

“Out of the total capital allocation, 85% is dedicated to completing ongoing projects, many of which were inherited, some dating as far back as 2010. Government is a continuum. What matters is not who awarded a project, but who completes it, because these are public funds.”

The proposed budget includes ₦1.29 trillion (72.33%) for capital expenditure and ₦494 billion for recurrent expenditure, an approach Wike said aligns with global best practices that prioritise infrastructure over overhead costs.

Accompanied by the Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, and senior FCTA officials, Wike commended the National Assembly’s support for the FCT Administration’s 85% budget performance in 2024.

“In governance, results don’t come from magic. If the monkey jumps, it’s because the tree is nearby,”he added.

Wike revealed that President Bola Tinubu has approved a 19-day window for the FCT Administration to commission a series of completed projects spanning transportation, education, road infrastructure, and public services.

“This will be the first time an administration is rolling out development projects across satellite towns like Gwagwalada, Kwali, Abaji, and AMAC. I urge you to attend the unveiling of the International Conference Centre; seeing is believing,” Wike told lawmakers.

He also recalled the embarrassment Nigeria faced during the last ECOWAS Parliament event at the ageing International Conference Centre (ICC), assuring that the new National Conference Centre would project Nigeria’s true leadership role in Africa.

“We can’t keep calling ourselves the giant of Africa only in words. It must show in our infrastructure. What happened at the ICC was shameful. But the President has charged us to change that narrative,” he stated.

On the revenue side, Wike clarified that FCT’s finances include both distributable and non-distributable components. The latter, such as the China Exim Bank loan for the Abuja Light Rail and Universal Basic Education (UBEC) counterpart funds, are earmarked and cannot be used for general expenditure.

He noted a ₦115 billion increase in the proposed 2025 budget compared to the revised 2024 budget of ₦1.66 trillion, attributing the growth to improved revenue generation and internal performance.
Personnel costs, he added, have risen slightly from ₦140 billion in 2024 to ₦150 billion in 2025 due to staff promotions and the appointment of new Secretaries.

Wike assured lawmakers that formal invitations would be sent for the upcoming commissioning of projects, but emphasised that their oversight contributions had already secured them a central role in the success of the FCT.

“Even if you go alone to inspect the projects, you’ll see it’s not just talk. It’s real. This is service delivery,” he concluded.

In his remarks, Chairman of the Senate Committee on FCT, Senator Ibrahim Bomai, commended the FCT Administration’s impressive 85% budget implementation rate in 2024.

He noted that out of the proposed ₦1.78 trillion for 2025, about ₦1.089 trillion, representing 85% of the capital budget, is earmarked for ongoing projects, with only ₦200.77 billion allocated for new initiatives.

“This is clearly a budget of consolidation,” Bomai said. “It is essential that we complete what has been started, rather than embarking on new, potentially wasteful ventures.”

He expressed appreciation to the Minister, the Minister of State, and the FCTA team for their proactive governance and responsiveness to the needs of FCT residents, particularly in the areas of infrastructure, security, and service delivery.

He also reiterated the committee’s constitutional duty to provide legislative oversight, assuring that its work would be guided by transparency, fairness, and fidelity to the law.