FG Sets December 20 Deadline to Clear Contractors’ Debts — Umahi Assures Protesters of Immediate Payment

The Federal Government has moved to ease rising tensions among road contractors by announcing that all verified outstanding payments will be settled on or before December 20, 2025.

The assurance comes after several days of intense protests over unpaid funds for completed and ongoing federal road projects.

Minister of Works, David Umahi, made the announcement during the reopening of the repaired Keffi Flyover in Nasarawa State.

He revealed that President Bola Tinubu had acknowledged the debt backlog and approved the formation of a special committee to verify and clear the arrears.

In recent days, contractors under the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria had stormed the Ministry of Finance, alleging prolonged non-payment of funds for 2024 projects.

They claimed the Federal Government owed as much as N4 trillion, with N760bn previously promised by Finance Minister Wale Edun as far back as September.

The protesters even placed a symbolic coffin at the ministry’s entrance, representing the hardship and loss of lives allegedly caused by the long delay in payments.

Umahi, however, appealed for calm, insisting that protests were now unnecessary as President Tinubu had ordered immediate settlement of all verified debts. He noted that contractors working on the Maraba–Keffi axis, including China Harbour Engineering Company, were among those soon to be paid.

He stated:
“Mr President recognised that you have been owed and is setting up a committee to review all the debts. No more protests. Before the 20th of December, you’ll be paid.”