Activities at the Federal Ministry of Finance headquarters in Abuja were disrupted on Monday following a protest by a group of local contractors demanding payment of alleged outstanding obligations by the federal government.
The contractors, under the umbrella of the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN), gathered at the ministry’s main entrance in the early hours, effectively restricting access to the complex. The protesters said they were left with no option but to take their grievances to the ministry after repeated appeals for settlement of debts reportedly owed to them yielded no results.
“We have executed government contracts in good faith, but many of our members have not been paid for months, some for years,” an AICAN representative said at the scene. “All we are asking for is dialogue and payment of what is legitimately owed to us.”
The protest caused delays for staff and visitors, with normal operations at the ministry brought to a standstill. Tension heightened when the Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite, arrived at the premises and security operatives moved in to secure entry into the building.
Eyewitnesses described a brief standoff as protesters refused to vacate the entrance, insisting on engagement with government officials.
“It was chaotic for a few minutes. People were shouting, and suddenly everyone started running after a gunshot was heard,” said a ministry staff member who asked not to be named.
The situation later deteriorated into confusion when a gunshot was reportedly fired during efforts by security personnel to disperse the crowd, triggering panic around the ministry’s gate.
Although the incident caused widespread alarm, it was not immediately clear whether any protester or security officer sustained injuries.
“Our priority was to restore order and prevent harm to lives and property,” a security source said, adding that calm was eventually restored.
Security agencies later secured the area, allowing partial resumption of activities within the complex. As of the time of filing this report, the Federal Ministry of Finance had yet to release an official statement addressing the protest or the contractors’ claims.