The Federal Government has ordered contractors handling major federal highways to remain on their sites throughout the yuletide period, as it directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to offset outstanding payments owed to road contractors.
Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, gave the directive while addressing contractors in Abuja, stressing that no site should be closed without the approval of the ministry.
“I want to make this 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, and Lagos Port Harcourt expressways, as well as other major roads, such as the Keffi Makurdi route,” Umahi said.
The minister said the decision was aimed at easing movement during the festive period, admitting that the Federal Government was embarrassed by the severe gridlock recently witnessed on the Abuja Lokoja expressway.
“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,” he added.
Thousands of travellers were stranded on the Abuja Lokoja road after a disruption caused by a standoff between truck drivers and military personnel, forcing many commuters to spend nights on the highway during the yuletide.
Umahi also disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had directed NNPCL to pay N263bn to contractors, while noting that the total debt owed from 2023 to date stood at N2.13trn.
“N263 billion will be paid to you by the NNPCL as directed by the President, but you have to exit precious agreements before you receive the payment,” the minister said.
On inherited NNPCL tax credit road projects, Umahi said all such projects would continue but payment responsibility would now rest with the Ministry of Works.
“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,” he said.
The minister also announced tighter supervision of road projects, warning senior officials to be present on sites.
“Our greatest problem is the lack of supervision, and as I said, there would be a director in each of the NNPCL projects from January 7, 2026,” Umahi said.
He assured contractors that all verified debts would be settled, adding, “Each of you being owed should come with evidence because the total debt from 2023 to date is N2.13 trillion, and we need to confirm the figures.”
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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