The Minister of Works, Engr Dave Umahi, has directed contractors working on the Abuja-Lokoja, Lagos-Port Harcourt, Keffi-Makurdi, and Abuja-Kano expressways not to close the sites during the yuletide without approval from his ministry.

The minister also directed contractors to exit all previous agreements, including those involving Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Tax Credit contracts inherited by the federal government, before they will be considered for payment.

Minister Umahi also announced that the Federal Government has directed NNPCL to pay the sum of N263 billion to contractors, stressing that the volume of debt owed to contractors between 2023 and date stands at N2.13 trillion, and that payment will only commence when the figures are clearly confirmed.

Addressing contractors in Abuja on Tuesday, the minister, after commending contractors for accommodating road projects not captured in the budget, stressed the need to free the roads during the yuletide to ease movement, noting specifically that the federal government was embarrassed by the gridlock on the Abuja-Lokoja expressway.

Travellers spent nights on the ever-congested Abuja-Lokoja expressway following a disruption as a result of a standoff between truck drivers and military personnel over the weekend.

The development left thousands of travellers for the yuletide stranded and helpless.

He said, “I want to make it clear to you, the contractors, that you will not close the sites without approval. These sites include the Abuja-Kano, Enugu-Onitsha, Sokoto-Zamfara, Abuja-Lokoja, Lagos-Port Harcourt expressways, and other major roads, including the Keffi-Makurdi.”

“I plead with you to free the roads, because we were thoroughly embarrassed by the Abuja-Lokoja road, and we do not want a repeat of that situation.”

On the inherited NNPCL road projects, the minister said, “I want to announce to you that Mr President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has directed that all NNPCL projects must continue, and the NNPCL will not be the one to pay you again. The Ministry of Works will pay going forward. And I want to say that in 2026, all regional directors must be in the field. Every senior director will have a specific project to supervise, and what that means is that you must all be digitalised. If you are not digitalised, the Permanent Secretary will write to the Head of Service to remove you.”

He continued, “Our greatest problem is a lack of supervision, and, as I said, there will be a director in each of the NNPCL projects from January 7, 2026.”

Promising that all contractors owed will be paid, the minister added that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was not aware they were not paid, adding, “N263 billion will be paid to you by the NNPCL as directed by the President, but you have to exit previous agreements before you receive the payment. Each of you being owed should come with evidence, because the total debt between 2023 and date is N2.13 trillion, and we need to confirm the figures.”

“Those of you owed before I assumed office, we will need to involve the anti-graft agencies, the Auditor General, and other agencies before we pay, because I was not minister before 2023.”

The minister also expressed concerns that the previous administration did not do much despite repeated contract awards.

“What we are supposed to be doing in some of these projects is continuation, but it would seem we are starting all over. So what has been happening is garbage in and garbage out. Nothing was done.”

In his comments, the Minister of State for Works, Barr Bello Goronyo, declared that from 2026, the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) will no longer be allowed to undertake small projects such as solar lights, but will focus on major projects, including the repair of collapsed bridges and major roads.

The management of FERMA was also directed to use concrete for road repairs instead of asphalt.

Goronyo said, “From 2026, FERMA must do roads and not solar lights. I will not go to commission solar lights done by FERMA. Nigerians are tired of excuses, and this is the time to work. FERMA must be on the field, and there must be no laxity.”

“I don’t want to see all these small works. You must concentrate on repairing collapsed bridges and fixing major roads.”