The All-Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria has rejected claims that its members have received ₦152 billion from the Federal Government, describing the assertion as false, misleading and deliberately crafted to misinform the Nigerian public.
The association said the claim poses a serious threat to ongoing reconciliation efforts between contractors and the government, while also eroding confidence in the payment process at a time when indigenous contractors are grappling with liquidity challenges, rising operational costs and stalled projects nationwide.
Addressing journalists on Tuesday, the National General Secretary of AICAN, Babatunde Seun Oyeniyi, said the narrative credited to the Minister of State for Finance, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, does not reflect the financial reality facing indigenous contractors, many of whom are still owed trillions of naira for fully executed government projects.
According to Vanguard, tensions have continued to rise among indigenous contractors over unpaid government obligations estimated at more than ₦4 trillion, a situation that has triggered several protests demanding the settlement of certified projects across the country.
Despite these unresolved liabilities, recent claims emerged suggesting that ₦152 billion had been paid to members of the All-Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria, a development the association firmly denied.
AICAN clarified that only ₦61 billion has been received so far, while the bulk of approved payments remains outstanding due to administrative bottlenecks, delays in approvals and unsigned warrants.
The association further stated that the only verified payment made recently was ₦21 billion, which was finalised on December 31, 2025, and eventually disbursed on January 21, 2026.
“AICAN wishes to inform the general public and set the record straight regarding the false and misleading information recently released by the Honourable Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, and promoted by a blogger known as Dee-One.”
“The claim that the Honourable Minister has paid ₦152 billion to AICAN members is completely false and misleading. Even if, for the sake of argument, such an amount had been paid (which it has not), would it be considered an achievement out of over ₦4 trillion owed by the Federal Government to contractors nationwide?” the association queried.
Oyeniyi disclosed that ₦150 billion was approved during a meeting with the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, held on December 3, 2025, specifically to settle outstanding 2024 project payments, but implementation of the approval has been slow and uneven.
He revealed that a total of 786 companies were submitted for batch payments, out of which 611 companies were finalised and paid a combined sum of ₦61.5 billion, while 175 companies are yet to receive payment due to ongoing reviews, approval delays and documentation issues.
“From December 2025 to date, only ₦61 Billion has been received, covering 611 companies only,” the statement said.
“The claim that AICAN has been paid ₦152 Billion is false, deceptive, and intended to mislead the Nigerian public,” Oyeniyi added.
On unbatch payments, the association disclosed that 938 companies submitted claims amounting to approximately ₦53 billion, but the payment process has stalled because the required warrants have not been signed by the Minister of State for Finance.
AICAN warned that unless all approved payments are fully released and outstanding warrants promptly signed, the financial strain on indigenous contractors will worsen, with serious implications for project delivery, employment retention and stability across the construction value chain.
