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The lawmaker representing the Federal Capital Territory senatorial district, Senator Ireti Kingibe, on Friday lamented that life in the nation’s capital is tough.
This was even as she added that residents of the FCT are hungry and passing through a difficult period brought about by President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms.
Kingibe disclosed this at the 8th Voice of Women Conference and Award organised in Abuja by the VOW Foundation, a non-profit, non-political organisation dedicated to promoting self-reliance and leadership among women.
She said, “Life in this environment is tough. Everyone is hungry; everyone is asking for money or food. But if I tried to give everyone what they wanted, I would be called the biggest thief in Abuja. Instead, I focus on advocating for your rights—like pushing for rent reforms so tenants can pay quarterly or yearly, instead of being forced to pay two years upfront.
“That’s how I represent your interests, by ensuring that you are not oppressed. As a senator, I work within my capacity. I don’t have a budget to execute these projects. When I receive things like rice for distribution, I make sure it reaches the people who need it most. I even have photos to prove it.
“Instead of relying on intermediaries, I went directly to the market women myself during the last empowerment initiative to ensure the aid was fairly distributed. I had to remove some names because they weren’t the ones who needed the help.”
While lamenting that being a female senator in a male-dominated National Assembly was a tough job, Kingibe stated that many people in her constituency expect her to carry out some projects execution that fall under the jurisdiction of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Speaking to PUNCH Online, the legislator explained that her responsibilities present unique challenges, particularly in the area of lobbying for projects in ministries and federal parastatals.
“People have misunderstood governance. Some think it’s about handing out money. But that’s not my role. The minister is responsible for executing those projects. My job is to ensure the FCT gets what it needs— whether it’s water, healthcare, or infrastructure. I constantly lobby ministers and agencies to prioritise these issues. I’m not supposed to be the one fixing primary healthcare, but I can step in when no one else does.
“Being a female senator is tough. I have to lobby for every project. I move from ministry to ministry, ensuring that essential items are included in the budget. For now, I’m engaging with big companies like Google and Microsoft to empower female entrepreneurs. As a leader, it’s not possible to meet every single person who voted for me in the FCT. But if your life improves, that’s what matters.
“For instance, in Karu, I helped to build a road, and the residents are happy, even though I don’t know all of them personally. They can see the impact. Another example is Karu Market Road, which I am working on. I have been alerted to issues with the overhead pedestrian bridge there. I am addressing that too because we learnt that a woman tragically lost her life there after being hit by a vehicle,” she stated.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Convener of Voices of Women Conference and Award, Toun Okewale-Sonaiya emphasised the need for more women in leadership positions.
Additionally, Okewale-Sonaiya urged the President to prioritise the appointment of more women in his administration to promote gender equality.
She stated, “Our objective is to see more women in positions of power, authority, and leadership, and we must approach this with strategy and fairness. Regardless of ethnicity, we must rally behind any woman bold enough to step forward and lead.”
She also pushed for the passage of the 74 extra seats bill by the 10th National Assembly, saying, “We need your voice and political will to elevate Nigerian women’s participation to a global standard.”
