Minister of Works Dave Umahi has warned that road contractors who refuse to mobilize to project sites until they receive advance payments from the federal government will be delisted from future contracts, saying the era of passive contractors who had collected government business for decades without demonstrating commitment to timely delivery was coming to an end.

Umahi made the declaration during an inspection of the portion of the Mararaba-Keffi road project handled by China Harbour Engineering Company, where he also threatened sanctions against ministry officials who failed to enforce construction guidelines. He said the government would begin reviewing contractor performance across all federal road projects, retaining only firms willing to invest their own resources while awaiting government payments.

He said some contractors had as many as 25 contracts awarded before the current administration and were still unwilling to move without advance funding, while others had been benefiting from government projects for more than 30 years without delivering. He said indigenous and foreign contractors would be treated equally in the review.

The minister also inspected the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road, Section II, handled by Infiouest International Limited, and noted that completion of outstanding works was scheduled for November 12, 2026. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ending the era of abandoned and substandard infrastructure projects and directed contractors to prioritize the completion of all outstanding sections before commencing additional asphalt works.

Senate Committee on Works Chairman Allwell Onyesoh and House of Representatives Committee on Works Chairman Akin Alabi, alongside member Jeremiah Sa’idu who represents Akwanga/Wamba/Nasarawa Eggon Federal Constituency, described the projects as strategic investments capable of stimulating economic growth, improving connectivity, and facilitating trade and national integration.