October 29, 2025
The All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria, AICAN, has said that despite claims of a warrant for the sum issued two months ago, the Federal Government of subjecting its members to unbearable economic hardship by failing to effect payment for executed 2024 capital projects worth over N760 billion.
National President of AICAN, Jackson Ifeanyi, who disclosed this in Abuja, during a press briefing, also accused government officials of prioritising projects that serve their personal interests over those executed by local contractors, describing the situation as “grave injustice” that has crippled many businesses.
Ifeanyi, explained that indigenous contractors were pushed into huge debts after executing government projects with borrowed funds based on government’s promise of prompt payment.
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He lamented that Federal Government had failed to honour its contractual obligations, leaving many contractors bankrupt even while the projects had been completed and publicly commissioned.
He said: “We are making it clear today that unless all outstanding payments are made to our members before the end of this week, which also marks the end of the October, we shall embark on continuous peaceful end of the month, demonstrations across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), displaying our demands and exposing this injustice to the world.
“We strongly advise all our members nationwide to refrain from participating in any 2025 capital or recurrent projects without mobilisation funds being released upfront.”
AICAN, added that “While the National Assembly, who suppose (s) to call the executive to order in this instance and other oversight bodies have (has) turned blind eyes to our plight, we were informed through the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation that warrant of Seven Hundred and Sixty Billion Naira (N760 billion) was released without cash backing for about two months till date.”
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Ifeanyi called on the media, civil society organisations, and international partners to stand in solidarity with indigenous contractors in their demand for transparency, accountability, and fairness in project financing and execution. Also speaking,
Also speaking, AICAN’s Vice President, Fredrick Agada, accused the government of giving priority to foreign firms to detriment of indigenous contractors. He said: “While foreign contractors are cashing out, our members are dying in penury. We will do all that is necessary to fight for our rights.”
