NASENI Refutes Online Reports About 30% Contract Mobilization Fee For Campus Project

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has debunked reports of alleged financial impropriety  about 30% contract mobilization fee  leveled on the agency  by two online media outfits in handling the agency’s ongoing construction of NASENI Campus project.

NASENI in a statement issued on Tuesday by its Director of Information, Olusegun  Ayeoyenikan accused Sahara Reporters and Secret Reporters of misleading the public  with false and malicious publication, stressing that the two media outfits did not wait for clarifications from the Management of NASENI to achieve a balanced report in this matter before they went public.

.NASENI in the state said, “The Secret Reporters insinuated maliciously that the Agency had paid N10.648 billion Naira which was the 30% of contract sum in a hurry to CGC Nigeria Limited in December 2025 just to mop up funds. This was not true, while the Sahara Reporters was quoting 15% mobilization 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%.

“Hence, we found it expedient to make the following clarifications to the absurdities being promoted as “truths” by the two online media.”

According to the NASENI director, the facts of the matter rather are that the agency had in 2025 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.

He added 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.

He also noted that 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. Thereafter, the company was mobilised to the tune of thirty per cent (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 per cent cap on mobilization 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 mobilization fee to contractors from 15 per cent to 30 per cent.

“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,” the director said in the statement.

He quoted the the Finance Act 2020, Part XIV- Public Procurement Act, in section 35 “a”, subsection “1”, as amended,  which states, “In addition to any other regulation as may be prescribed by the Bureau, a mobilization fee of not more that 30 per cent 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 mobilization fee is fully amortised or recovered.”

He, therefore, advised the media to seek clarification before publishing any unfounded and malicious stories about government agencies, adding that NASENI follows all due process in awarding public contracts as stated in Finance Act, 2020, which amended the Procurement Act, 2007.

“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.

“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,” Ayeoyenikan added.

He pointed out that the project reflects NASENI’s 3Cs of Creation, Collaboration and Commercialization, 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,” he assured.