During a recent press conference, Minister of Works Senator David Umahi announced that the contract for the remaining section of the Abuja-Kaduna highway has been awarded to Infiouest International Limited, dispelling rumors that it was granted to Infoquest Nigeria Limited.
Senator Umahi pointed out that the similar-sounding names of the two companies may have caused the misunderstanding. He explained that “Infiouest” is derived from French, where the letter “O” is pronounced like “Q.” This distinction is vital, as the minister stressed the need to accurately identify the company responsible for the highway project.
In response to the misinformation, Infoquest Nigeria Limited quickly registered an account on the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) portal. However, official records show that the company’s business status is still listed as “Not commenced,” raising concerns.
A search conducted through the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) indicated that Infiouest International Limited was established on October 24, 2001. Although the company has only submitted annual tax returns for 2022 and 2023, Senator Umahi maintained that Infiouest is “corporately active” and fully compliant with all legal obligations outlined in the Companies and Allied Matters Act.
In his remarks, Senator Umahi condemned the previous report as “mischievous,” claiming it was part of a calculated effort to discredit the Ministry and hinder the government’s initiatives to improve road infrastructure in Nigeria. He called for a public apology to be published in at least five national newspapers for what he termed the unjust spread of false information.
The minister also addressed concerns about ongoing corruption, reiterating the Ministry’s dedication to transparency and accountability in the management of public contracts. He assured the public of Infiouest’s competence.
