CISLAC demands probe of Abuja-Kaduna road contract as FG seeks apology from Daily Trust over report
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has raised concerns over the federal government’s decision to re-award the N252.89 billion Abuja-Kaduna highway contract to Infoquest Nigeria Limited, an inactive company according to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
CISLAC, in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, on Tuesday called for an immediate investigation into the procurement process, emphasizing the importance of transparency and accountability in government contracting.
According to the statement, the N252.89 billion contract was re-awarded after being revoked from Julius Berger Nigeria Plc due to pricing disputes and project delays. However, findings by Daily Trust revealed that Infoquest Nigeria Limited is listed as inactive on the CAC database, raising serious concerns about its legitimacy and capacity to handle the critical infrastructure project.
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“This decision represents a blatant violation of procurement laws and corporate governance principles,” CISLAC stated. “Corruption in public procurement is one of the biggest challenges undermining Nigeria’s developments, and immediate corrective action is needed.”
In the statement, Daily Trust said Infoquest Nigeria Limited has not filed annual returns since its registration in 1997 and has a share capital of just N100,000, and its listed Lagos address shows no signs of active business operations.
The organization described the contract award as a “blatant violation of procurement laws and corporate governance principles” and urged the government to prioritize competence and due process.
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Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Works has strongly refuted allegations regarding the contract.
In a press briefing held on January 21, 2025, the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, debunked claims that Infoquest Nigeria Limited was awarded the contract, clarifying that the company involved is Infiouest International Limited, which he said is active and compliant with legal requirements.
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He condemned the publication by Daily Trust as false, malicious, and aimed at undermining the ministry’s efforts to reform road infrastructure development under the Renewed Hope agenda.
Umahi demanded an unreserved apology from Daily Trust to the ministry, to be published in at least five national dailies.
He also accused certain contractors and publications of orchestrating a campaign to discredit the ministry’s reforms aimed at ensuring value for money and adherence to best practices in project execution.
Returning to its call for accountability, CISLAC criticized the federal government for allegedly ignoring due diligence and awarding a high-value contract to a company with questionable credentials.
The CSO argued that the decision violates the Public Procurement Act of 2007 and Sections 525 and 583 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020, which disqualifies inactive companies from conducting business.
“This reflects poorly on Nigeria’s procurement practices and raises concerns about political interference or corruption,” Rafsanjani stated.
He demanded full disclosure of the bidding process and independent scrutiny of how Infoquest Nigeria Limited was deemed eligible.
CISLAC also urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to launch a thorough investigation and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
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