Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, Ireti Kingibe, has strongly criticised the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, over the recent imposition of a curfew in Abuja, describing the move as excessive and undemocratic.
In a statement issued on Friday through her Special Assistant on Media, Matilda Duncan, Kingibe faulted what she termed a unilateral decision by the Minister, arguing that there was no significant security threat to justify such sweeping restrictions across the nation’s capital.
She maintained that although the Area Council elections are approaching, security concerns must not be used as a pretext for executive overreach. According to the lawmaker, policies that affect residents’ freedoms and livelihoods should be subjected to consultation and transparency.
“The Minister should remember that he is not the first to administer this territory, and this is not the first election to be conducted here. FCT residents are citizens of a democratic republic, not subjects under a dictatorship,” the statement read.
Kingibe warned that the curfew could have far-reaching economic consequences, particularly for small business owners and daily wage earners who depend on evening commercial activities.
She also expressed concern over the potential diplomatic impact of the restriction, noting that members of the ECOWAS Parliament are expected in Abuja for a 10-day extraordinary session beginning Sunday. The curfew, she said, could disrupt official engagements, embassy functions, weddings, and other pre-scheduled social events.
Describing Abuja as both a diplomatic and commercial hub, the senator argued that imposing stringent measures without evidence of a clear and imminent threat could generate unnecessary panic and harm Nigeria’s international image.
The development signals renewed tensions between the senator and the FCT administration over governance and policy direction in the capital territory.
