Umahi Tells Contractors To Present Claim Of Owed N2.13trn For Verification

The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi has directed contractors to present the generated certificates, along with their claims of N2.13 trillion owed to local contractors, for verification and payment in January.

Umahi, who stated this at a meeting with contractors on Tuesday in Abuja, said President Bola Tinubu was shocked when he informed him of the development.

He lamented that lack of supervision and commitment remains the most significant challenge facing the country in terms of infrastructure development.

Speaking about generated certificates for NNPC-funded projects, he said the President has approved that the sum of N263 billion be paid to the contractors.

“NNPC has been directed to liaise with FIRS to ensure you are paid. That process is ongoing. On the generated certificates under the Ministry of Works that have not been paid for. Accept my apologies,” Umahi said.

Umahi added that, “The Permanent Secretary will write to all contractors and direct the legal department to exit NNPC and the Ministry of Finance. We are not cancelling contracts, but since they are no longer funded by NNPC, we have to exit the agreement”.

He added that a committee chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima was already working on the payment, urging contractors to submit their claims based on the generated certificates and provide evidence from January 5, 2026.

“We must verify everything, because from 2023 to date, the total inherited debt is about N2.13 trillion, and we must be sure of the correctness,” the minister said.

He added that inherited debts before 2023 will be verified separately, involving the EFCC, ICPC, the Budget Office, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Works, and the Auditor-General’s Office.

I cannot take responsibility for what I was not part of, but it does not relieve us of the responsibility of owning the debts,” he said.

Speaking on the gridlock experienced by commuters along the Abuja-Lokoja road, the minister described it as an embarrassment.

He attributed it to dereliction of duty by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), alleging that both sides of the roads have been turned into market squares while the agency looked the other way.

“So, for Road Safety, I’ve told them to take their jobs seriously. If this continues, I will report them to the president.

“Everybody in this country should do their work. They should do their job. You know, the president works from 8 am in the morning to 10 pm at night.

“Who are we? We have to work. We don’t just pretend to shout about a new book. It has to be a script and a reality,” he said.

Umahi directed that all roads be freed, adding that no contractor is allowed to close any road without approval from the Ministry of Works.

“There must be approval by the Federal Ministry of Works before any closure. That is what the contract says, and that is what the procedure says. We do not just close and open roads. We need to know. If you want to close, some signs must be in place. For example, the Abuja–Kano Road cannot just be closed. No place should be closed without our permission,” he said.

He maintained that no Controller should go on holiday while Nigerians suffer on the roads.