Officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on Tuesday fired teargas to disperse contractors protesting an alleged N5.2 billion unpaid debt at the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Secretariat in Abuja.
The protesters, members of the Coalition of Indigenous FCT Contractors, arrived early at the secretariat and blocked the main entrance with a truck while chanting the name of Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. They demanded immediate payment for projects they said were fully executed and officially verified by relevant authorities.
Security operatives swiftly cordoned off the entrance to prevent the demonstrators from gaining access to the premises. After a tense standoff lasting several minutes, police officers fired multiple rounds of teargas, forcing the protesters to scatter.
Speaking after the incident, Chuka Muojindu, leader of the coalition, said the outstanding sum of N5,211,503,589 covers a wide range of public works carried out across the FCT. These include drain desilting, sewage evacuation, medical supplies, school furniture, borehole drilling, and other community-based projects.
Muojindu alleged that although all contracts were inspected, verified and cleared for payment, the final approval has not been granted by the FCT minister.
“Every contract was inspected, verified and forwarded for payment, but the minister has refused to approve the final release,” he said.
He added that the prolonged delay has had severe consequences for members of the coalition. “Over five of our members have died. Some developed severe hypertension, others lost their homes and marriages due to financial pressure,” he claimed.
The contractors said they have staged multiple protests over the past few months, accusing the FCTA and the federal government of ignoring their demands despite repeated engagements.
Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Sunday threatened to mobilise its members for street protests in solidarity with indigenous contractors and pensioners allegedly owed billions of naira by the federal government.
As of the time of filing this report, the FCTA had not issued an official statement on the protest, the police action, or the status of the alleged debt.
The contractors insisted they would continue their demonstrations until the outstanding payments are fully settled.
About the Author
