President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has intervened in concerns over the potential discontinuation of funding for road infrastructure projects being executed under the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Tax Credit Scheme.
The Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, disclosed this during a high-level meeting with affected contractors on July 31, 2025, in Abuja.
He reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to infrastructure development and assured stakeholders that no project would be abandoned due to funding issues.
In a statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Affairs, Mohammed A. Ahmed, the minister clarified concerns around unpaid certificates and dispelled fears of funding withdrawal.
Umahi stated that the majority of the projects under the NNPCL scheme remain unaffected and that contractors, particularly those on concession-bound roads, will be fully paid before any handover to concessionaires with verifiable funding and execution capacity.
The minister directed all contractors and field officers to return to their respective project sites immediately and resume work. He stressed the urgency of submitting updated project documentation, including revised scopes for key corridors like the Lokoja–Benin Dual Carriageway, within seven days.
He warned that inaccurate data submissions would result in misinformation and delays in project execution.
On the issue of unpaid certificates, Umahi emphasized the need for accurate reconciliation of certified sums with payments received, including VAT, other taxes, and the 5% retention fee, which form part of contractors’ entitlements.
He revealed that the Ministry is actively engaging NNPCL to clear all verified outstanding certificates earned before August 1, 2025.
He further disclosed that President Tinubu has approved a new sustainable funding mechanism for all NNPCL projects from August 1, 2025, ensuring continued execution of the projects.
To enhance oversight and accountability, the minister announced the constitution of a verification committee comprising directors from the departments of Highways Construction and Rehabilitation, Bridges and Design, Press and Public Relations, and Public Procurement.
In addition, Zonal Directors, Federal Controllers of Works, and contractors will be deployed across the six geopolitical zones for physical inspections of ongoing works and commissioning of completed palliative projects. These activities will involve members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) for transparency.
Reiterating the Ministry’s zero-tolerance stance on financial misconduct, Umahi directed that projects exceeding ₦10 billion be reported separately from those below, to ensure transparency.
He warned that unresolved payment issues or discrepancies after the seven-day deadline would be escalated.
Concluding the meeting, Umahi urged stakeholders to treat their responsibilities as vital to the success of the Tinubu administration’s infrastructure revolution.
“We are building with integrity, accountability, and in the best interest of the Nigerian people,” he said. “Let the public, press, and National Assembly inspect our work—and let us publicly hear from them.”
