Paul Ibe, media adviser to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, has called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to disclose the costs and funding sources of his media engagements broadcast live by television and radio stations.

Ibe made the demand in a post on X on Tuesday, questioning the potential cost of a media parley featuring Wike and the budgetary provisions, if any, used to finance the broadcasts.

Estimating the cost at between ₦10 million and ₦20 million per station per hour, Ibe argued that eight stations broadcasting a two-hour session could attract between ₦160 million and ₦320 million.

He further estimated that holding 12 such sessions could bring the total to between ₦1.92 billion and ₦3.84 billion.

However, the figures were estimates provided by Ibe and have not been independently verified. No invoices or other documentary evidence were presented in the information accompanying his claims to establish the actual cost of the broadcasts.

“There is nothing wrong with a minister explaining his stewardship. But public resources must serve public purposes, not personal political battles,” Ibe wrote.

He argued that the minister’s media engagements should focus more on issues affecting FCT residents, including infrastructure and public services, rather than political disagreements with opposition figures and parties.

“FCT residents deserve to know how much is being spent on these broadcasts and how much airtime is devoted to FCT development, rather than Wike’s political disagreements with Atiku, Amaechi, Obi, ADC and NDC,” he said.

Ibe urged Wike to publish invoices, identify the stations involved, disclose the amounts paid and clarify the sources of funding and relevant budget lines.

“Minister Wike, publish the invoices. Identify the stations paid, the amounts, the funding sources and the relevant budget lines,” he added.

He maintained that residents had a right to know whether public funds were used to finance the broadcasts and, if so, the budgetary provisions under which the expenditure was authorised.

“The FCT treasury is not Wike’s personal political broadcasting account. Public office is not a licence to convert public funds into private political publicity,” Ibe wrote.

The comments followed a media parley in Abuja at which Wike reportedly discussed projects undertaken by his administration and his political support for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election.

The funding questions raised by Ibe remain allegations and have not been substantiated by independently verified financial records. The estimates alone do not establish that the broadcasts were paid for with public funds or that the stated amounts were actually charged.

At the time of filing this report, the FCT minister’s spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, had not provided an immediate response to an enquiry from the publication.