*The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure shreds news publications by Sahara Reporters and Secret Reporters, which suggested financial impropriety, stating its handling of the ongoing construction of NASENI Campus project follows the BPP financial regulations and procedures
Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect
Following publications by Sahara Reporters and Secret Reporters, which suggested insinuations of financial impropriety by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) in its handling of the ongoing construction of NASENI Campus project, the agency has stated that the news publications “are false, malicious and intended to deceive the public.”
NASENI said the Secret Reporters also insinuated maliciously, that it had paid N10.648 billion Naira which was the 30 percent of contract sum in a hurry to CGC Nigeria Limited in December 2025 just to mop up funds.
The agency in a statement Tuesday, September 29, 2026, however, said: “This was not true, while the Sahara Reporters was quoting 15% mobilisation mark as NASENI’s offence, referring to an old procurement Law which showed that the media house was not aware of amendment to Public Procurement in the Finance Act, 2020 which increased the maximum allowable mobilization fee for public contracts from 15% to 30%.
“We want the public to know that the two online media did not wait for clarifications from the Management of NASENI to achieve a balanced report in this matter before they went out with their falsehoods.
“Hence, we found it expedient to make the following clarifications to the absurdities being promoted as ‘truths’ by the two online media.”
NASENI explained the facts of the matter are that the agency, in 2025, had sought consultancy from reputable and qualified companies to handle construction of NASENI Campus, a flagship Science, Technology and Innovation Complex designed to strengthen Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem to be situated at Abuja Technology Village, Lugbe, Abuja, FCT.
It further noted that CGC Nigeria Limited emerged having being issued with the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) Certificate of no Objection to the Contract, and also having met all the technical and financial requirements in line with the public procurement process of the Agency as well as the BPP Act as amended in the Finance Act, 2020.
The agency said before the payment by NASENI to CGC Nigeria Limited, the company also provided Bank Guarantee from a very reputable commercial bank in Nigeria in line with approved procedures.
In line with the agency’s public accountability requirements and prudence, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in November 2025, approved the award of the NASENI Campus contract to CGC Nigeria Limited, it stated.
NASENI also said thereafter, the company was mobilised to the tune of thirty percent (30%) of the total contract sum, which was also in line with the BPP financial regulations and procedures to enable the company to move to the project site.
The 30% cap on mobilisation fees for government contracts in Nigeria rule was introduced under Finance Act 2020, which amended the Public Procurement Act 2007, to increase the maximum allowable mobilisation fee to contractors from 15% to 30%.
It averred: “Therefore, the payment of mobilisation fee to the contractor met all statutory, legal and procurement requirements for awarding public contracts below: The Finance Act 2020 had amended several Acts including the Public Procurement Act No. 17, 2007.”
According to the Finance Act 2020, Part XIV- Public Procurement Act, in section 35 “a”, subsection “1”, as amended, its states:
(1) “In addition to any other regulation as may be prescribed by the Bureau, a mobilization fee of not more that 30% for contractors may be paid to a supplier or contractor supported by an unconditional bank guarantee or insurance bond issued by an institution acceptable to the procuring entity until the mobilisation fee is fully amortised or recovered.”
The agency said the media is advised to seek clarification before “publishing any unfounded and malicious stories about government agencies.”
The statement noted that NASENI follows all due process in awarding public contracts as stated in Finance Act, 2020, which amended the Procurement Act, 2007.
It maintained it is on record that the NASENI Campus construction is steadily progressing.
“The Campus is being developed to address a critical challenge: helping promising Nigerian ideas move beyond research and prototypes into market-ready products, businesses and industries,” the statement noted.
When completed, the Campus will provide research laboratories, advanced prototyping and fabrication facilities, co-working spaces and collaborative learning facilities where innovators, researchers, engineers and industry can work together.
The project reflects NASENI’s 3Cs of Creation, Collaboration and Commercialisation, providing a pathway for innovators, including those emerging from initiatives such as #InnovateNaija, Futuremakers and others to develop, test and advance their solutions towards the market.
As construction progresses, each milestone brings NASENI closer to creating the infrastructure needed to turn homegrown innovation into economic and industrial value.