Shots Fired As Contractors Block Finance Ministry Over Unpaid Debts

A gunshot rang out on Monday at the Federal Ministry of Finance headquarters in Abuja as local contractors under the auspices of All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN) blocked the Ministry’s entrance, demanding payment for executed and commissioned projects.

The protest prevented the Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite, from entering the complex, despite security personnel’s efforts to clear a path.

Demonstrators chanted solidarity songs and called on the ministry to settle outstanding debts owed them immediately.

The demonstration was part of a continuation of protests from last year, as contractors claimed that most completed projects remained unpaid and accused the government of repeatedly shifting positions on debt settlement.

In December 2025, President Bola Tinubu directed a committee to address the issue, while a Senate committee has summoned the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, to explain the circumstances surrounding the non-payment.

Tensions escalated during Monday’s protest when security operatives attempted to disperse the crowd, and a gunshot was heard at the scene. Contractors insisted on immediate payment before any further engagement with the government.