The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has denied awarding a section of the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano road dualisation project to Infoquest Nigeria Ltd.

Umahi’s rebuttal followed a report published in Daily Trust on January 21, 2025, which alleged that the Federal Ministry of Works had awarded the project to the company.

At a media briefing held at the ministry’s conference hall, Umahi described the publication as “mischievous, insensitively misleading, and injurious.”

The event was attended by the Minister of State for Works, Mohammed Bello Goronyo; the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works, Foluso Adebiyi; and key ministry directors.

Clarifying the situation, Umahi said the report falsely claimed he had stated that Infoquest Nigeria Ltd secured a “No Objection” certificate worth N252.89 billion from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) for the rehabilitation of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road. He insisted that the ministry has no relationship with Infoquest Nigeria Ltd, adding that the contracted company is Infiouest International Limited. He stressed that Infiouest International Limited is a legally compliant and active corporate entity under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA).

In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Orji Uchenna Orji, the minister criticised the publication as a calculated attempt to malign the ministry, undermine the government’s efforts to improve road infrastructure under the Renewed Hope Agenda and discredit a reputable contractor. He demanded a public apology from the news outlet, to be published in at least five national dailies, for the false claims.

Umahi also decried recent reports that misrepresented the reasons behind the termination of the former contractor’s engagement on the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road project. He described these reports as part of a coordinated effort to spread falsehoods and attack the ministry’s commitment to value for money, quality assurance, and adherence to global best practices in project execution.

The minister called on the public and the media to support the government’s fight against anational sabotage by some contractors. He urged the media to prioritise factual reporting and avoid being used by individuals with ulterior motives.

Goronyo commended the ministry’s proactive response to the allegations, describing it as a show of resilience. He called on media practitioners to verify their information with the appropriate authorities before publishing to avoid spreading unfounded claims.

In his remarks, Permanent Secretary Foluso Adebiyi described the press briefing as timely and thoughtful. He stressed the need for development-focused journalism and encouraged the media to uphold the truth and avoid manipulation by those opposed to national progress.