NASENI says N10.6bn contractor payment complied with procurement rules

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure has defended a N10.6 billion mobilisation payment to CGC Nigeria Limited for construction of its campus in Abuja. In a statement issued by its Director of Information, Olusegun Ayeoyenikan, the agency rejected reports alleging financial impropriety and said the payment complied with public procurement requirements. NASENI said the sum represented 30 per cent of the contract value.

It cited the Finance Act 2020, which amended the Public Procurement Act and raised the maximum mobilisation payment for public contracts from 15 per cent to 30 per cent. The agency said CGC Nigeria was selected after meeting technical and financial requirements. It added that the Bureau of Public Procurement had issued a Certificate of No Objection and that the contractor provided a bank guarantee from a reputable Nigerian commercial bank.

According to NASENI, the Federal Executive Council approved the contract in November 2025. The mobilisation was then made to enable the contractor to move to the project site, it said. The agency accused two online publications of making false or misleading claims without first seeking clarification from its management.

It said the reports either referred to an outdated mobilisation limit or alleged that the payment was made to “mop up funds”. NASENI said the project at Abuja Technology Village, Lugbe, is intended to provide research laboratories, prototyping and fabrication facilities, co-working spaces and learning facilities. The campus, it said, would help move Nigerian ideas from research and prototypes into market-ready products and businesses.