The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has urged the federal government to ensure openness and transparency regarding the re-award of the Abuja-Kaduna highway contract. The organization asserts that the secrecy surrounding the contract 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, emphasizing the need for accountability in government contracting.
The N252.89 billion contract was re-awarded after being revoked from Julius Berger Nigeria Plc. due to disputes over pricing and project delays. However, confusion persists over whether the contract was awarded to “Infoquest” or “Infiouest,” raising serious concerns about transparency and the federal government’s commitment to completing the project.
CISLAC stated, “The manner in which the re-award of the contract was handled may represent a blatant violation of procurement laws and corporate governance principles.” The organization warned that awarding such a high-value contract to a company with disputed credentials undermines accountability and serves as a disservice to the Nigerian people.
The statement continued, raising critical questions about the due diligence performed by the 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.
“We demand full disclosure of the bidding process, including the evaluation criteria and the rationale for selecting the company awarded such a large-scale infrastructure project,” the statement concluded.
