The Federal Government has assured aggrieved road contractors that all outstanding payments will be settled before December 20, 2025, following days of protests over mounting debts.
Works Minister David Umahi gave the assurance on Thursday at the reopening of the repaired Keffi Flyover in Nasarawa State. He said President Bola Tinubu had acknowledged the backlog and approved a special committee to verify and clear all claims.
Contractors, under the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria, had protested at the Ministry of Finance, alleging unpaid funds for 2024 projects. They claimed the government owed about N4tn and demanded the release of N760bn reportedly promised earlier.
Umahi urged them to halt further protests, saying Tinubu had directed immediate settlement of verified debts, including payments to firms on the Maraba–Keffi axis.
In a transparency push, Umahi revealed that the ministry had invited the ICPC and EFCC to audit all ongoing and completed road projects nationwide. He added that an online platform for real-time project monitoring would soon be launched.
Speaking at the flyover reopening, Umahi praised the President’s prompt approval of funds for emergency repairs—released within 24 hours after the July 4 collapse caused by a truck accident. The rebuilt structure now includes reinforced components and a crash-prevention gantry.
Umahi also defended progress on the Abuja–Kano Road, noting that flawed original designs had been corrected and more than 44km of concrete sections are completed, alongside an almost finished 12km solar-lit stretch near Kano.
