The Federal Government has awarded the contract for Section 2 of the Abuja-Kaduna highway to Infoquest Nigeria Limited, an inactive company with questionable qualifications. This move follows the revocation of the contract from Julius Berger over cost disagreements and delays.
Infoquest Nigeria Limited, announced by Minister of Works Sen. David Umahi as the new contractor, received a “No Objection” certificate for ₦252.89 billion from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP). However, checks by Daily Trust reveal that Infoquest is listed as inactive on the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) website, indicating it has failed to meet its statutory obligations under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020.
The law stipulates that inactive companies cannot execute contracts or undertake business activities. Infoquest’s registration details show it has a share capital of only ₦100,000 and no history of filing annual returns. Attempts to locate the company at its registered address in Lagos were unsuccessful, with residents confirming no such business exists there.
The BPP defended its decision, stating that the company met all requirements and had a history of executing federal contracts. However, critics question its ability to handle a project of this magnitude given its inactive status and lack of visibility.
The Abuja-Kaduna highway, a vital route for commuters and businesses, remains in dire need of completion, raising concerns over transparency and due diligence in awarding such critical contracts.
