By Huldah Shado
Local contractors under the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria on Tuesday barricaded the main entrance of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Abuja, demanding the payment of over N500 billion owed to them for completed projects.
The protesters arrived early and blocked access to the premises, preventing staff and visitors from entering. They said the debt had plunged many members into severe hardship.
The group displayed a coffin, explaining that it symbolised contractors who had died from stress and financial difficulties linked to the unpaid contracts. They vowed not to leave until the government provided concrete assurances of immediate payment.
The protest caused traffic disruption around the Central Area as security personnel were deployed to maintain order.
As of the time of filing this report, the ministry had yet to address the demonstrators.
