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The Digest:

Police officers fired teargas on Tuesday to disperse members of the Coalition of Indigenous FCT Contractors who were protesting at the Federal Capital Territory Administration secretariat over an alleged N5.2 billion debt owed for completed projects. The protesters, who blocked the main entrance, chanting the name of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, demanded immediate payment for verified contracts, citing deaths and severe hardship among their members due to the unpaid funds.

Key Points:
  • Police used teargas to disperse contractors protesting at the FCTA secretariat
  • The coalition alleges an unpaid debt of N5,211,503,589 for executed projects
  • Projects include drain desilting, sewage evacuation, medical supplies, and borehole drilling
  • Protest leader Chuka Muojindu said contracts were inspected and verified for payment
  • The group claims that at least five members have died due to stress from the unpaid debt
  • The African Democratic Congress had earlier threatened solidarity protests
  • The FCTA has not stated the debt or the protest
When the state owes those who build it, the contract of trust frays. This clash is not merely about unpaid invoices, it is about the human cost of delayed justice and the breaking point of public patience in the face of institutional silence.

Sources: The Cable, Punch