- Umahi Orders Contractors to Keep Major Highways Open During Yuletide
- Umahi also instructed contractors to disengage from all previous contractual arrangements
- Umahi said the government was embarrassed by the severe gridlock recently witnessed on the Abuja Lokoja expressway
The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has directed contractors handling major federal highways to keep their project sites open during the yuletide period, warning that no site should be closed without prior approval from the ministry.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the directive affects key routes including the Abuja Lokoja, Lagos Port Harcourt, Abuja Kano, Keffi Makurdi and other major expressways across the country.
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Umahi also instructed contractors to disengage from all previous contractual arrangements, including Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited tax credit agreements inherited by the Federal Government, before they would be eligible for payment.
Speaking during a meeting with contractors in Abuja, the minister disclosed that the Federal Government had directed NNPCL to pay N263 billion to contractors. He added that outstanding debts owed to contractors from 2023 to date amounted to N2.13 trillion, stressing that payments would only commence after proper verification of claims.
Umahi said the government was embarrassed by the severe gridlock recently witnessed on the Abuja Lokoja expressway, where thousands of travellers were stranded for hours following a standoff between truck drivers and military personnel during the yuletide period. He urged contractors to prioritise road clearance to ensure free movement during the festive season.
The minister further announced that President Bola Tinubu had ordered the continuation of all NNPCL inherited road projects, noting that payments would now be handled by the Ministry of Works. He added that from 2026, senior ministry officials would be assigned to supervise specific projects nationwide, with strict monitoring and digital reporting requirements.
Umahi assured contractors that all verified debts would be settled, emphasizing that transparency and proper documentation were required before payments could be made.
