By AnchorNews

The Federal Government has assured road contractors nationwide that all verified outstanding payments will be cleared on or before December 20, 2025.

Minister of Works, David Umahi, gave the assurance on Thursday during the reopening of the repaired Keffi Flyover in Nasarawa State. He said President Bola Tinubu had acknowledged the mounting debt owed to contractors and approved the constitution of a special committee to verify and settle all claims.

The assurance comes after days of protests by members of the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria, who accused the government of delaying payments for completed and ongoing projects. The group alleged that the government owes contractors about N4 trillion, and demanded the release of N760 billion which they said was earlier promised by the Minister of Finance.

Umahi, however, urged the contractors to suspend further protests, insisting that President Tinubu had directed that all verified debts be cleared before the December deadline. He added that some contractors working on the Maraba–Keffi corridor, including China Harbour Engineering Company, would also be captured in the payment schedule.

In a major transparency push, the Works Ministry has invited both the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to audit all ongoing and completed federal road projects across the country. Umahi said the step is aimed at ensuring accountability and restoring public confidence in project financing.

The Minister also disclosed that an online platform will soon be launched to allow Nigerians monitor road projects in real-time and report concerns.

Speaking on the Keffi Flyover, which collapsed on July 4 after a truck damaged its structure, Umahi revealed that President Tinubu approved emergency funds for repairs within 24 hours of receiving the report. The bridge has now been fully restored, featuring a new gantry crash-prevention system to stop heavy-duty vehicles from causing further damage.

Umahi also defended the pace of work on the Abuja–Kano Road, explaining that a flawed original design necessitated modifications. He noted that significant progress has been made, with concrete pavement completed in several sections and a 12-kilometre solar-lit stretch near Kano nearing delivery.

The Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to quality assurance, explaining that a 2.5% retention fee will be enforced under a strict defect-liability regime until contractors meet set standards.

AnchorNews will continue to monitor updates on the federal government’s payment process and infrastructure developments nationwide.