The Coalition of Civil Society Groups for Peace and Good Governance has demanded the immediate payment of outstanding debts owed to contractors involved in the stalled Bwari Housing Project.
In a statement issued in Abuja, the coalition accused the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) of abandoning the initiative for personal interests despite having access to funds. National Coordinator Isa Yakubu alleged that FHA leadership deliberately withheld payments for completed work, pushing contractors into severe financial distress.
According to the coalition, the prolonged financial strain has led to devastating consequences, with some contractors reportedly suffering strokes or even losing their lives due to the stress.
The statement further claimed that the FHA management is attempting to cancel the project and reassign it to preferred associates, leaving the original contractors unpaid.
Delays and Financial Struggles
The Bwari Housing Project, awarded in April 2022, faced initial setbacks as contractors were unable to commence work for six months due to site unpreparedness. This delay, combined with rising costs of materials, labor, and transportation, made project completion more difficult.
Despite these challenges, several contractors managed to complete and hand over buildings in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Housing Initiative, which aims to deliver 500,000 housing units annually. However, the coalition claims that payments stopped as soon as new FHA management assumed office.
Contractors Facing Loan Defaults
Many affected contractors reportedly took out high-interest loans and used properties as collateral to finance construction. With the FHA failing to pay for completed work, some contractors now face the risk of property confiscation.
“What was meant to be an affordable housing project has become an abandoned venture, plagued by financial hardship and leadership neglect,” the statement read.
The coalition urged the federal government to intervene, ensuring that contractors receive their due payments to prevent further economic losses and human suffering.
