AEC Unity Network Limited, the officially recognized concessionaire for the Abuja-Lagos Super Highway and High-Speed Train projects, has refuted any connection with an organization called AEC-Geofocus Consortium (Geofocus).
The company clarified that Geofocus is not involved in the planning, financing, construction, or operation of the 470-kilometer superhighway and high-speed rail initiatives, which are integral to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda aimed at enhancing national infrastructure.
In a statement issued on Sunday, AEC Unity Network asserted that it is the exclusive concessionaire authorized by the Federal Government of Nigeria, having secured approvals from the Federal Ministry of Works, the Federal Ministry of Finance, and the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC).
Barrister Ayodeji Ademola, legal consultant for AEC Unity Network, stated that AEC-Geofocus has no legitimate grounds to make any claims regarding the Super Highway project, as they were not involved in its initial development.
In the statement, AEC Unity Network emphasized that it is the exclusive concessionaire authorized by the Federal Government of Nigeria to design, finance, construct, operate, and maintain the 470-kilometer superhighway and high-speed rail connecting Abuja and Lagos.
The company has received approvals from the Federal Ministry of Works, the Federal Ministry of Finance, and the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC).
The response from AEC Unity Network appears to have been prompted by media reports attributed to Engineer Mutiu Yinka Idris, who claimed that AEC-Geofocus was overseeing the project on behalf of the federal government. Idris, who identified himself as the Director of Operations for AEC-Geofocus, made these assertions in the publication.
Idris has assured stakeholders that a significant project will be launched before February 2025, emphasizing AEC-Geofocus’s dedication to providing top-tier infrastructure.
“The $16 billion initiative will be spearheaded by AEC-Geofocus, a consortium of engineers, planners, and investors, with plans finalized to kick off by February 2025,” Idris stated.
He noted that the Lagos-Abuja corridor, which stretches roughly 500 kilometers, will link Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Kwara, Kogi, and Niger states before reaching Abuja, following a Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Maintain (DBFOM) model.
In a strong response, AEC Unity Network expressed astonishment at the sudden appearance of AEC-Geofocus, which is making claims about a project it has no involvement in.
The statement included: “We categorically assert that AEC Unity Network Limited has no affiliation with AEC-Geofocus Consortium or Geofocus. Any assertions made by Geofocus regarding participation in the projects are unfounded.”
