President Bola Tinubu has moved to allay fears over funding delays affecting road infrastructure projects under the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Tax Credit Scheme, assuring stakeholders that no project will be stalled or abandoned.
This reassurance was conveyed by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, during a high-level meeting with contractors at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja. The minister emphasized the President’s commitment to ensuring uninterrupted infrastructure development across the country.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Mohammed Ahmed, the President has directed the resumption of payments for ongoing road projects funded through the NNPCL scheme.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, through the Federal Ministry of Works, has intervened in the concerns surrounding potential funding discontinuation under the NNPCL Tax Credit Scheme. He has directed immediate payment resumption and assured continuous funding, with a firm guarantee that no project will be abandoned,” the statement read.
Minister Umahi addressed widespread concerns from contractors and state governments over delayed disbursements, noting that while some challenges existed, most projects under the scheme remain unaffected. He assured contractors that all outstanding certificates, particularly for concession-bound roads, would be cleared before the projects are handed over to private operators with proven financial capacity.
He directed all contractors and field officers to return to their respective sites without delay, urging them to submit updated project documentation—including revised scopes for major routes like the Lokoja–Benin Dual Carriageway—within seven days. He warned that submission of inaccurate data could result in misinformation and delays.
On the matter of unpaid certificates, Umahi emphasized the need for proper reconciliation between certified claims and payments received, including value-added tax (VAT), other levies, and the 5% retention fee, which remains part of contractors’ entitlements.
He disclosed that the ministry is working closely with NNPCL to clear all verified outstanding certificates earned before August 1, 2025. Furthermore, from that date, funding for projects under the NNPCL scheme will continue under a newly approved, sustainable mechanism.
To ensure oversight and verification, Umahi announced the formation of a technical committee comprising directors from the departments of Highways (Construction, Rehabilitation, Bridges and Design), Press and Public Relations, and Public Procurement. This committee will gather and authenticate all necessary project data within the stipulated timeframe.
Additionally, Zonal Directors, Federal Controllers of Works, and contractors will be deployed across the six geopolitical zones to conduct physical inspections and commission completed palliative projects. These exercises will involve active participation from the Nigerian Union of Journalists to promote transparency.
Reiterating his ministry’s zero-tolerance policy on financial impropriety, Umahi instructed that all projects above ₦10 billion be reported separately from smaller contracts to ensure better oversight.
“Any unresolved payment issues or financial discrepancies after the seven-day deadline will be escalated,” he warned.
Concluding the meeting, Umahi called on all stakeholders to approach their responsibilities with dedication, describing the opportunity to contribute to Nigeria’s infrastructure revolution under the Renewed Hope Agenda as a national duty.
“We are building with integrity and accountability, in the best interest of the Nigerian people,” he said. “Let the public, the press, and the National Assembly inspect our work and offer their feedback transparently.”
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