Police officers fired teargas to disperse members of the Coalition of Indigenous FCT Contractors who staged a protest at the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) secretariat in Abuja over an alleged unpaid N5.2 billion debt.

The contractors blocked the main entrance to the secretariat with a truck, chanting the name of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and demanding payment for projects they described as fully executed and verified. Security operatives cordoned off the area before police moved in with teargas, forcing protesters to flee.

Coalition leader Chuka Muojindu said the outstanding N5,211,503,589 covers various public works, including drain desilting, sewage evacuation, medical supplies, school furniture, borehole drilling and other community projects.

He claimed all contracts had been inspected and forwarded for payment, but the minister had refused to approve the final release of funds. Muojindu added that several contractors had died or suffered severe hardship due to the delay.

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Contractors have held repeated demonstrations against the minister and the federal government, while the African Democratic Congress recently threatened to mobilise wider protests in solidarity with those owed.

The FCTA has yet to comment on the incident or on the status of the payments. Protesters say they will continue their demonstrations until the debt is cleared.

Source: Thecable