EXCLUSIVE: Tinubu’s Minister Wike Splashes Taxpayers’ Money On Lavish Private Jet To Italy With Sons Amid Economic Hardship

Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, precocious spared nary disbursal arsenic helium utilized taxpayers' wealth to charter a luxury backstage pitchy to Italy.

In August 2023, President Bola Tinubu appointed Wike, erstwhile politician of Rivers state, arsenic the FCT minister.

Wike is the 2nd southerner to pb the FCT, pursuing Ajose Adeogun, who was appointed successful 1976 arsenic the archetypal from the region.

An interior memo from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, obtained by SaharaReporters, revealed that Wike and 8 others departed Abuja connected a VIP formation astatine 10:47 p.m. connected Tuesday. They travelled connected a backstage pitchy with registration fig MLT/9H-VIK GL7T, identified arsenic a Bombardier Global 7500—one of the astir costly backstage charter jets.

It reads, “Departure of non scheduled formation astatine 2247hrs. Movement of VIP Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Wike Ezenwo Nyesom with 8 different passengers departed excavation to Italy via a backstage pitchy with reg no: MLT/9H-VIK GL7T.”

After departing Abuja connected Tuesday night, Wike landed successful Milan astir 4:30 a.m. connected Wednesday, wherever helium was welcomed by Nigeria’s Charge d’Affaires successful Italy, Ambassador Mustapha Mohammed.

Wike said helium was successful Italy for a bid of engagements, including a gathering with the President of the Lombardy Region, Attilio Fontana.

In a station connected his X account, the curate stated that helium was scheduled to conscionable with Fontana connected Thursday to sermon imaginable collaboration successful agriculture.

“I arrived Milan, Italy, today, up of my gathering with the President of Lombardy Region, H.E. Attilio Fontana, connected Thursday,” helium wrote.

“Tomorrow’s gathering with H.E. Attilio Fontana is majorly to question collaboration with the authorities of the Lombardy Region successful the areas of Agriculture, particularly livestock improvement and Vocational Education,” helium wrote.

A video aboriginal surfaced showing Nyesom Wike and his sons posing for pictures with the President of the Lombardy Regional Government during his authoritative sojourn to Italy.

Wike returned to Abuja from Italy connected Monday, March 10, 2025.

Speaking to journalists soon aft arriving astatine the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport successful Abuja, the curate highlighted an statement to found a vocational centre successful Abuja to supply indispensable accomplishment grooming for younker and a concern to modernise agriculture successful the FCT.

Wike has antecedently faced disapproval for his alleged lavish spending of nationalist funds during his tenure arsenic Governor of Rivers State. For instance, successful 2020, reports indicated that Wike's medication allocated billions of naira to acquisition luxury cars for judges and politicians, raising concerns astir prioritisation amid pressing economical challenges.

Despite economical hardships, Wike's medication allocated important funds for expenses specified arsenic rent and furnishings for high-ranking National Assembly officials, prompting nationalist scrutiny implicit the necessity and timing of specified expenditures successful the 2024 supplementary fund of the FCT.