The Federal Government has pledged to clear all verified outstanding payments to road contractors before December 20, 2025, following recent protests over unpaid debts.

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

Contractors under the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria had protested at the Ministry of Finance, claiming the government owes about N4tn and demanding the release of N760bn earlier promised. They also placed a symbolic coffin at the ministry’s entrance to highlight the hardship caused by delayed payments.

Umahi urged them to stop the protests, insisting the President had ordered immediate payment of all verified debts, including those owed to firms working on the Maraba–Keffi axis.

He also announced that the ICPC and EFCC had been invited to audit all federal road projects to ensure transparency. An online platform for real-time project tracking is being developed.

The minister commended the President for releasing emergency funds within 24 hours for the repair of the collapsed Keffi Flyover, now fully restored with upgraded safety features.

On the Abuja–Kano Road, Umahi said design flaws had slowed progress but added that over 44km of work had been completed, with more sections nearing delivery.