Indigenous Contractors Stage Fresh Protest at Ministry of Finance, Demanding Immediate Payment of Long-Overdue N500 Billion+ Debt

Members of the All Indigenous Contractors of Nigeria (AICAN) have launched a fresh, high-stakes series of protests in Abuja, dramatically converging on the Federal Ministry of Finance and the National Assembly Complex to demand the immediate settlement of what they claim are long-overdue debts for completed federal projects. The latest demonstration, which took place as recently, underscores the growing fiscal crisis facing the nation’s construction sector.

The contractors are demanding the release of substantial funds, with verified debts for completed projects executed under the 2024 and 2025 budgets totaling hundreds of billions of Naira. While the specific headline figure is N500$ billion, AICAN leadership has cited figures as high as N760$ billion for recently verified projects alone. The contractors argue that the prolonged delay in payment has pushed many local firms to the brink of insolvency, forcing business closures, job losses, and significant personal hardship, as most members executed the contracts using bank loans and personal funds.

AICAN officials have repeatedly expressed frustration, accusing government agencies of bias and non-compliance with the administration’s stated commitment to promoting indigenous participation in national infrastructure development. They claim that while foreign contractors are often paid promptly, local firms are left stranded.

The growing unrest has triggered a significant legislative reaction. Following a recent wave of protests at the National Assembly, the House of Representatives issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Ministers of Finance and Budget to ensure all verified debts owed to local contractors are settled. The contractors have vowed to continue their peaceful demonstrations until every outstanding liability is cleared, warning that the continuous non-payment risks the complete collapse of the indigenous construction industry and could potentially jeopardize the execution of the 2026 federal budget projects.