Group tasks FG on transparency in Abuja-Kaduna highway contract re-award

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has called on the Federal Government to investigate the re-award of the Abuja-Kaduna highway contract.

The group stated that the secrecy and lack of clarity surrounding the process violates Nigeria’s public procurement laws.

In a statement signed by its Executive Director,  Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, CISLAC demanded an immediate investigation into the procurement process and the individuals involved, emphasising the need for transparency and accountability in government contracting.

The civil society group said the N252.89 billion contract was re-awarded after being revoked from Julius Berger Nigeria Plc due to pricing disputes and project delays.

It, however, noted that ongoing debates over whether the contract was awarded to “Infoquest” or “Infiouest” have raised serious concerns about transparency and the Federal Government’s commitment to completing the project.

“How the re-award of the contract was handled may represent a blatant violation of procurement laws and corporate governance principles.

Lack of transparency in public procurement remains one of the biggest challenges undermining Nigeria’s development, and immediate corrective action is needed,” he said.

CISLAC warned that awarding such a high-value contract to a company with disputed credentials is a disservice to Nigerians and compromises accountability, noting that this raises critical questions about the due diligence conducted by relevant authorities.

The Public Procurement Act of 2007 mandates that contracts be awarded through a competitive and transparent process to qualified contractors. CISLAC questioned the criteria used to assess Infiouest Nigeria Limited’s bid and called for an independent review of the procurement process.

The group urged President Bola Tinubu to order a thorough investigation into the procurement process and to hold all individuals involved accountable. It also called on anti-corruption agencies to probe the matter, given the importance of the project to the well-being and security of Nigerians.