The federal government has awarded the contract for the revoked section of the Abuja-Kaduna highway to Infoquest Nigeria Limited, an inactive company, raising concerns about transparency and due process.
The Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, announced that Infoquest Nigeria Limited had secured a “No Objection” certificate from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) for the project, valued at N252.89 billion.
However, investigations by Daily Trust revealed that Infoquest Nigeria Limited is listed as “inactive” on the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) website. This status, according to the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020, renders the company legally incapable of entering into contracts.
Company’s Inactive Status Raises Red Flags
CAMA 2020 empowers the CAC to remove inactive companies from the register. Once struck off, such companies cease to exist legally and cannot enter into or enforce contracts.
Further scrutiny revealed that Infoquest Nigeria Limited has a minimal share capital of N100,000 and has never filed annual returns with the CAC.
Address Discrepancy
A Daily Trust reporter visited the company’s registered address at 39, Falohun Street, Orile, Lagos, but found no evidence of the company operating from that location.
Ministry Denies Award
When contacted, the Director of Press for the Ministry of Works, Mohammed A. Ahmed, denied that the contract had been awarded, stating that the minister only received a certificate. However, subsequent attempts to clarify this statement were unsuccessful.
BPP Defends Decision.
The Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, acknowledged complaints about the award but maintained that the BPP issued the “No Objection” certificate based on the company’s qualifications and without any political interference.
Concerns Remain
The award of this crucial infrastructure project to an inactive company raises serious concerns about transparency, due process, and the government’s commitment to responsible procurement.
