President Bola Tinubu has intervened decisively to address concerns over potential suspension of funding for critical road infrastructure projects under the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Tax Credit Scheme.
The President has issued directives to ensure the uninterrupted continuation of payments to contractors and the timely completion of ongoing projects, which are vital to Nigeria’s economic connectivity and logistics.
Speaking at a high-level meeting in Abuja with affected contractors, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, conveyed President Tinubu’s commitment to sustaining infrastructure development and assured that no project would be abandoned due to funding delays.
In a statement released by the Ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Mohammed Ahmed, Umahi clarified that the majority of projects financed under the NNPCL Tax Credit Scheme would continue unaffected. Contractors, especially those working on concession-bound roads, were assured that all outstanding payments would be settled before handing over to concessionaires with verified capacity and funding.
The Minister ordered all contractors and field officers to immediately return to work, with updated project documentation to be submitted within seven days. He warned that inaccurate or delayed submissions could hinder project progress, emphasizing the importance of reconciliation of unpaid certificates, VAT, taxes, and retention fees.
Umahi disclosed ongoing engagement with NNPCL to clear outstanding payments on verified certificates earned before August 1, 2025. He also revealed that from August 1 onward, the projects will be funded under a new sustainable financing mechanism approved by the President.
To enhance transparency and accountability, a committee involving various Ministry departments has been formed to verify project data within the deadline. Additionally, zonal directors, federal controllers, and contractors will conduct physical inspections and commissions across the country, supported by members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists.
The Minister reiterated the Ministry’s zero-tolerance stance on financial misconduct and mandated separate reporting for projects exceeding N10 billion to improve oversight. Unresolved payment issues beyond the stipulated timeframe will be escalated for further action.
Concluding the session, Umahi urged all stakeholders to view their roles as critical to Nigeria’s infrastructure revolution under the Renewed Hope Administration, pledging integrity and accountability.
“We are building with integrity, accountability, and in the best interest of the Nigerian people. Let the public, press, and the National Assembly inspect our work, and let us publicly hear from them,” he affirmed.
