FG to settle contractor debts by December 20
The Federal Government has moved to calm angry road contractors by promising that all unpaid bills will be settled before December 20, 2025. This assurance came after several days of protests in Abuja over delayed payments for completed road projects.
Minister of Works, David Umahi, made the promise while reopening the repaired Keffi Flyover in Nasarawa State. He said President Bola Tinubu has acknowledged that contractors are owed large sums and has set up a special committee to verify the debts and ensure they are paid quickly.
In recent days, contractors under the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria protested at the Ministry of Finance, accusing the government of failing to pay them for 2024 projects. They claimed the government owes contractors about ₦4 trillion, but they are specifically demanding the release of ₦760 billion, which they say the finance minister earlier promised to pay in September.
During the protest, they placed a symbolic coffin at the ministry’s entrance to show the hardship and deaths allegedly caused by the long delay in payments.
Responding, Umahi told them to stop the protests, assuring that President Tinubu has ordered that all verified debts must be cleared soon. He also mentioned that some companies working on the Maraba–Keffi road, including China Harbour Engineering Company, are among those who will receive payment.
Umahi also announced a new move to improve transparency: the Ministry of Works has invited the ICPC and EFCC to audit all federal road projects nationwide. He said this is the first time the ministry is taking such a step and that it will help rebuild public trust.
He added that an online platform will soon be launched so Nigerians can monitor the progress of road projects in real time.
During the reopening of the Keffi Flyover—damaged in July by a truck carrying an excavator—Umahi praised President Tinubu for releasing money for emergency repairs within 24 hours. The repaired bridge now has stronger structures and a crash-prevention system.
Speaking on the Abuja–Kano Road, Umahi defended the pace of work, saying the original design had problems and needed major changes. He said over 44km of work has already been completed and that more sections, including a solar-lit stretch near Kano, are almost ready.
Umahi repeated that the government is committed to quality, transparency, and better monitoring, adding that contractors must meet strict standards before receiving full payment.