Wike reacts to N300m bulletproof car

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has reacted to social media reports that he bought a N300m Armoured Lexus car on assumption of office.

Wike denied the reports and challenged journalists to touch the car to confirm whether it was a bulletproof car or not.

The minister, after his tour of the Abuja Light Rail, said, “We are now going to the office to have a direct report from each of the departments, but I have seen what is going on in the social media; how you (FCTA Permanent Secretary) bought a bulletproof car of N300m that I am using.

“So, I want you people to go hit your hand there (on the car) and see whether it is a treated car. With all due respect, people should be careful not to destroy other people.

“When I came, the Permanent Secretary said they have a car for us, and the car we use is this. I have never approved any car to be bought and I have not used an official bulletproof car. Whether I have cars as governor? Yes, as a governor, what do you expect I should have? But, I am not using bulletproof car as FCT minister, so we should report the right thing, and not destroy ourselves. I want you to take a look at where you have the flag, and see whether it is a bulletproof car.”

Wike was accompanied to the metro station by the FCT minister of state, Dr Mariya Mahmoud and FCT Permanent Secretary, Olusade Adesola.

He bemoaned the Metro Station’s route’s lack of commercial viability and emphasised that the FCTA will soon start working on routes connecting neighbouring towns to the city centre.

He said, “The Abuja Metro Rail project is one of the projects this administration wants to complete and put to use immediately, to reduce the traffic in the city.

“The money for the rehabilitation of the project is there, we will make sure the contractor is paid to ensure that the project is completed and inaugurated in the next few months.”