The Federal Government has ordered contractors handling its road projects to immediately open up major highways where construction is ongoing, warning that no contractor will henceforth be allowed to close work sites during festive periods without the express approval of the Federal Ministry of Works.
The directive came as the government also instructed contractors operating under the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited Tax Credit Scheme to exit existing tripartite agreements to enable proper payment processing, following the expiration of the NNPCL funding arrangement.
Minister of Works, David Umahi, who issued the directives on Tuesday in Abuja during an extensive engagement with contractors and senior officials of the Ministry, said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had ordered the Ministry of Works to assume full financial responsibility for the affected projects.
“The President has directed that all inherited NNPC projects must continue. However, NNPC will no longer be the one paying you. Payment responsibility now rests with the Ministry of Works through appropriate funding channels,” Umahi said.
He explained that contractors must formally exit the tripartite agreements to allow the ministry process payments directly, warning that failure to do so would attract sanctions.
“If contractors do not exit, we will terminate the agreements in line with contract terms,” the minister said.
Umahi said the continued closure of major highways during festive periods had caused severe hardship for Nigerians and must stop with immediate effect.
“No project site should be closed without formal approval from the Federal Ministry of Works. Certain strategic routes must remain open at all times,” he said.
He listed key corridors that must not be shut down under any circumstances, including the Abuja Kaduna Kano road, the Keffi Mararaba axis, and major routes in Niger, Katsina, South South and South East States, warning that unauthorised closures endangered lives and disrupted economic activities.
“This is very important. No place should close without our permission,” he stressed.
The Minister also announced that misuse and abuse of federal roads by motorists and other users would no longer be tolerated, disclosing plans to engage consultants to clear static human and vehicular obstructions impeding traffic flow on major highways.
He said bids for the consultancy services would be announced and opened in 2026, while urging road law enforcement agencies to intensify oversight of federal highways or risk being reported to the President.
He warned contractors to take full advantage of the dry season to make substantial progress on projects before the onset of the rainy season, which is expected to slow construction activities nationwide.
On funding, Umahi disclosed that outstanding certified debts from 2923 would be settled, revealing that ₦260 billion had already been approved by President Tinubu for payment.
He said inherited debts from 2020 to date had been estimated at about ₦2.1 trillion but would be subjected to thorough verification before payment.
“As of today, the total indebtedness from 2020 to date is about ₦2.1 trillion. We cannot swear to the correctness of this without verification, so, every document must be scanned, verified and properly documented,” he said.
He added that anti graft agencies would be involved in the verification process.
Assuring contractors of government’s commitment, Umahi said, “We know you cannot work if you are not paid, and that is why the President has approved that verified debts arising from NNPC funded projects should be settled.”
The Minister announced a major reorganisation of the Ministry of Works, saying all directors and senior officials would be deployed to the field to supervise projects directly.
“The biggest problem we have in this country is lack of supervision and lack of commitment. That must change
“One of the first national agendas of the Ministry of Works in 2026 is discipline. Discipline in project execution, discipline in conduct and discipline in supervision,” Umahi said.
He warned that contractors handling more projects than their capacity allowed would face audits of their equipment and personnel, with the possibility of project reassignment.
“We cannot claim that we totally own our contractors. There are still contractors holding more than 25 projects without the capacity to execute them. If you have jobs, you must have the equipment and personnel,” Umahi said, adding that projects could be broken into phases and reassigned where necessary.
To strengthen transparency, he announced plans to introduce a zonal project monitoring website, “Contractors will upload their evaluations. Supervising officers will also upload their reports. Everybody will see it,” he said, adding that certification would be issued within 48 hours of verification.
Umahi also unveiled a structured mentorship programme aimed at building local capacity in the construction sector.
“We have announced a mentorship programme. Do not be surprised when we send engineers to you to train them. No nation has ever developed by relying only on foreign expertise,” he said.
Umahi commended contractors for embracing the policy direction of President Tinubu, particularly the transition from asphalt to concrete road technology.
“Change is never easy, but many of you willingly adjusted your projects from asphalt to concrete. Asphalt roads that fail repeatedly within a short time do not serve the country well, and this administration is determined to build infrastructure that lasts,” he added.
He also praised contractors for undertaking emergency intervention works outside original contract scopes, noting that such actions had helped save lives.
“In emergency situations, lives must come first. Excessive procedural delays in such moments are equivalent to denying urgent care,” Umahi said.
Acknowledging past disagreements, he said, “We fought a lot of you, and a lot of you fought us. But these disagreements were necessary for the sake of our country.”
On his part, the Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, assured that the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) would intensify its mandate in 2026.
He said with improved funding from innovative sources, the agency is expected to commission more maintained roads while integrating concrete technology into its maintenance framework next year.
