In a surprising development, the federal government has re-awarded the Abuja-Kaduna highway contract to Infoquest Nigeria Limited, a company currently listed as inactive. This decision has ignited considerable scrutiny and debate, as investigations reveal that the firm lacks the legal authority to undertake such a significant project.
The contract was announced by Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, who stated that Infoquest had secured a “No Objection” certificate worth N252.89 billion from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP). However, further inquiries reveal that Infoquest has not fulfilled its legal obligations, as its status on the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) website is inactive.
With concerns mounting over the legitimacy of the award, critics point to potential violations of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020, which prohibits inactive companies from entering into contracts. This raises questions about the government’s procurement processes and the integrity of the decision-making involved.
As the situation unfolds, the public is left questioning the rationale behind awarding such a significant contract to a company that appears to lack the capacity and legal foundation to execute it. Will this decision lead to further complications in the already contentious Abuja-Kaduna highway project?