ICPC, EFCC to Audit All Federal Road Projects as Works Ministry Launches Real-Time Monitoring System
The Federal Government has moved to defuse growing tension among road contractors, announcing that all verified outstanding payments for federal road projects will be cleared before December 20, 2025. The assurance comes after several days of protests in Abuja over mounting contract debts and stalled project financing.
Minister of Works, David Umahi, gave the update on Thursday during the official reopening of the repaired Keffi Flyover in Nasarawa State. He revealed that President Bola Tinubu has acknowledged the backlog of payments and approved the formation of a special committee to authenticate and settle every legitimate claim.
Protests had broken out earlier in the week as contractors acting under the umbrella of the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria, stormed the Ministry of Finance, accusing the government of withholding funds for projects completed in 2024. The group estimates that the Federal Government owes contractors roughly N4 trillion, though they are demanding the release of N760 billion reportedly promised by Finance Minister Wale Edun in September.
In a symbolic act of frustration, the contractors placed a coffin at the entrance of the ministry, saying it represented the hardship and deaths some members had endured due to delayed payments.
Responding to their grievances, Umahi urged protestors to stand down, insisting that the President has given clear instructions for verified payments to be made without delay.
“Mr President recognised yesterday that contractors are owed, and he is setting up a committee to review all the debts,” Umahi said. “There should be no more protests. You will be paid. The President has assured that payments will be made before the 20th of December.”
He added that contractors working along the Maraba–Keffi corridor, including China Harbour Engineering Company were among those yet to receive payment but would be included in the upcoming disbursement cycle.
In a move the Minister described as unprecedented, the Works Ministry has formally invited both the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conduct a nationwide audit of all ongoing and completed federal road projects. The aim, he said, is to strengthen transparency, rebuild public confidence, and ensure that government payments match the actual work done on the ground.
“I wrote to ICPC and submitted all the projects since I assumed office. We have asked them to verify everything across all states. We have also sent the same list to EFCC. We are being completely transparent under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Umahi stated.
He also announced the introduction of a real-time digital monitoring platform that will allow citizens to track the progress of federal road projects and report concerns directly.
During the reopening ceremony for the Keffi Flyover, an essential link between Abuja and Nasarawa that collapsed on July 4 after a truck carrying an excavator damaged key components Umahi praised the President’s swift action. He disclosed that emergency repair funds were released within 24 hours of briefing the Presidency.
The reconstruction involved replacing the damaged beam, parapet, and walkway, and installing a gantry to prevent future collisions from heavy-duty vehicles. Ministry engineers confirmed the structure is now fully certified for use.
Umahi also addressed recent public criticism of the pace of work on the Abuja–Kano Road, describing the complaints as unfair. He said the original contract design had been flawed and needed modification to include full concrete shoulders. According to him, more than 44 kilometres have been completed under the revised plan, while a solar-lit 12-kilometre stretch near Kano is nearing completion.
He reiterated the ministry’s commitment to quality delivery, explaining that the adoption of concrete pavement technology, stricter monitoring, and new tolling reforms will help ensure durable roads. A 2.5% retention fee will continue to be withheld from contractors until all defect-liability requirements are satisfied.
