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From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
The Federal Government has assured protesting contractors that their outstanding payments will be cleared before December 20, 2025, urging them to suspend further demonstrations as efforts to resolve the debt backlog intensify.
Minister of Works, David Umahi, gave the assurance on Thursday in Abuja while commissioning the rehabilitated section of the Keffi Bridge, which was damaged by a trailer three months ago. He said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is fully aware of the contractors’ grievances and has already set up a committee to verify and reconcile all outstanding debts.
“We have not even got the money that we should get. But let me assure our contractors that the president yesterday (Wednesday) in Federal Executive Council recognised that you are being owed. And he set up a committee to review all the debts,” Umahi said.
Appealing for calm, he told the contractors to halt further protests, stressing that payment is guaranteed. “Please, no more protest. You will be paid. Mr President has assured that you will be paid,” he added.
Umahi noted that several companies handling critical interventions— including two on the Keffi–Mararaba Road and China Harbour—were yet to receive their payments, but insisted that “the president is aware and efforts are being made. Before December 20, 2025, you will be paid.”
He commended CGC for delivering what he described as “very quality work” on the repaired section of the bridge, and urged the firm to approach the ministry to claim the funds released for the intervention. According to him, President Tinubu approved 100 percent of the money required for the project.
Umahi described the President’s swift response to the bridge incident as unprecedented. “The moment this happened, the Nasarawa Governor called me and I immediately went to the president. Within 24 hours he released the money for this project. It’s unprecedented,” he declared. He added that the administration has made several similar interventions across the country and more would be made public soon.
Speaking on transparency in the Ministry of Works, Umahi disclosed that he had invited anti-graft agencies to scrutinise all projects approved under President Tinubu. “I wrote to ICPC and we gave them all the projects of the president in the Ministry of Works from the very day he assumed office. And we asked them to go through all the states of the federation and Abuja to verify these projects and take a decision. This is the first of its kind,” he stated.
He further noted that the same documentation had been sent to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), expressing confidence that the review would reinforce public trust in the infrastructure renewal programme.
“We are very transparent in what we are doing under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I’m enjoying my work because I love hard work. I love quality work. I love when people are happy. And God gave me a boss like no other,” he said.
Umahi reiterated the President’s commitment to timely action and compassion for citizens, recalling how quickly the Keffi bridge funds were approved. “Can you imagine if this unfortunate incident was delayed? Within 24 hours he released the money for this project,” he emphasized.
Also speaking at the event, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, Dr Abiodun Esiet, announced that CCTV cameras would soon be installed along the Keffi–Mararaba Road to strengthen security, especially for Christmas travellers.
“Along Keffi–Mararaba Road, we are going to install CCTV to boost security because this is the Christmas season. It’s also to make sure that our people, while they are going from one place to another, their safety has been captured in the design of the road,” she explained. She added that her team left home before 7am and arrived at the site by 11am, “to show that the people working with the president are committed to deliver the mandate of the president.”
Her remarks came just days after contractors in Abuja staged a protest over delayed payments. During the December 2 demonstration, they carried placards with inscriptions such as: “Concerned contractors owed by Federal Government of Nigeria,” “Payment delay is fraud, not just injustice,” “No payment to contractor, no peace,” and “Contractors deserve payment, not fake promises”, he said.
