There was commotion at the entrance of the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja on Monday, when protesting local contractors prevented Doris Uzoka-Anite, the minister of state for finance, from accessing the complex.

The protesters, under the aegis of the All-Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN), blocked the gate of the ministry over debt owed by the federal government.

When Uzoka-Anite arrived at the entrance, security operatives attempted to create a pathway into the building for her — a move that was rejected by the demonstrators.

According to an online source, amid the scuffle, a gunshot was heard as security personnel attempted to disperse the protesters.

The latest protest is part of a growing conflict between contractors and the government. In December, contractors even blocked entrances with a coffin to demand payment of over N500 billion owed to them.