The Ministry of Works, on behalf of the Federal Government, is set to pay road contractors N431 billion.

David Umahi, the Minister of Works, made this known during a meeting with contractors responsible for road dualisation projects and zonal directors of the ministry on Thursday.

The former governor of Ebonyi State, also stated that the ministry would concentrate on the majority of the dualized roads in the country.

The Minister said, “Why we are here now is to announce our intention to face most of the dualised roads in the country.

“I want to remind you that Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation is funding 50 per cent of the contract sum and that funding goes up to 2025.

“We have N431bn of money that is ready for contractors to clear but there is no certificate for it. If you are doing a job under Phase 1, make an effort to make claims, if your job involves augmentation go back to your regional director for understanding before I sign the certificate. Any certificate I sign now, I have to take account for it even when I have leave office.”

The Minister noted that this administration has 1800 kilometre of roads, and inherited a contract sum of about N14.1 trillion and out of which N4trillion is being paid in all the projects, some of the projects have lasted between 10 to 20years.

“We are going back to the original concept of the projects and the necessity of any additional works and also see how we get a fair deal, expecting an endorsement from the Ministry of what is not acceptable to Nigerian Society of Engineers is not possible”.