The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has dismissed reports claiming that his ministry awarded a section of the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano road dualisation project to Infoquest Nigeria Ltd.
Umahi described the report as misleading and damaging, falsely representing his ministry.
Speaking at a press conference held on Tuesday in Abuja, which was also attended by the Minister of State for Works, Mohammed Bello Goronyo, Umahi labelled the report as mischievous, insensitively misleading, and injurious.
The statement falsely attributed to him claimed that “Infoquest Nigeria Ltd” secured a “No Objection” certificate for N252.89 billion from the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, for the rehabilitation of a section of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road, and alleged that the ministry had awarded the contract to an obscure company.
The minister clarified that the Ministry of Works has no business relationship with “Infoquest Nigeria Ltd.”
He explained that the company with a contractual relationship regarding the project is “Infiouest International Limited,” which is corporately active and fully compliant with all legal requirements and regulations under the Companies and Allied Matters Act.
Umahi criticised the “mischief” created by the publication, describing it as a deliberate effort by a cartel to malign the ministry, undermine the Renewed Hope administration’s efforts to revolutionise road infrastructure and discredit a company with proven capacity in road construction.
He demanded that Daily Trust newspapers issue a public apology to the Federal Ministry of Works, to be published in at least five national dailies, for unjustifiably publishing false information against the ministry.
Umahi also referenced recent publications by Julius Berger Plc, which he described as deliberate misrepresentations of facts. These publications allegedly sought to justify why the company reneged on its contractual obligations concerning the section of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road it was handling before the contract was terminated.
He questioned the coordinated spread of falsehoods, blackmail, and conspiracies aimed at undermining the government’s policies, all because of the ministry’s insistence on value for money, quality assurance, and best practices in project pricing and execution. Umahi called on the public and the press to support the fight against national sabotage by certain contractors.
