By Danjuma Amodu
The Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) has defended the procurement process for its NIGCOMSAT-2A and N2B satellite programme, insisting the exercise was transparent, competitive and fully compliant with public procurement laws.
Reacting to allegations of irregularities and manipulation contained in a September 18 report by Daily Post, the company in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday said the claims that the process was compromised or skewed to favour particular bidders were false.
According to NIGCOMSAT, all participating bidders were subjected to the same technical, financial and compliance requirements under the procurement framework and guidelines of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).
The company said the successful bidders emerged based on overall evaluation of their submissions covering technical responsiveness, financial compliance, delivery capacity, project risks, security considerations and long-term value to the Federal Government, and not performance in isolated areas or alleged influence of individuals or interest groups.
It dismissed suggestions that the non-selection of a particular bidder amounted to evidence of wrongdoing, stressing that participation in a competitive exercise does not confer entitlement to an award and that previous contractual relationships or past performance with NIGCOMSAT could not guarantee selection in a new process.
On concerns over the selection of Hughes Network Systems’ JUPITER platform, NIGCOMSAT said reports about Chapter 11 proceedings involving Hughes Satellite Systems were being used speculatively without evidence that such proceedings had affected Hughes Network Systems’ technical capacity, contractual obligations or ability to deliver the required ground infrastructure.
The company maintained that corporate or financial developments involving a related entity could not, on their own, establish that the procurement decision was defective, noting that technical assessments, contractual due diligence and verified facts, not conjecture, should determine the integrity of the process.
NIGCOMSAT also addressed concerns over staff welfare and outstanding financial obligations, stating that the current management inherited a salary structure that had remained unchanged for 17 years and that steps had been taken to secure necessary government approvals for a review, while outstanding obligations from official assignments were being addressed.
It said the NIGCOMSAT-2A and 2B satellites remain critical to Nigeria’s future digital infrastructure, expected to strengthen communications resilience, expand broadband coverage, improve connectivity in underserved communities, and support national security, education, healthcare, broadcasting and economic development.
The company reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s strategic interests and implementing the programme with appropriate technical, financial, legal and project-continuity safeguards, urging any aggrieved bidder to utilise statutory procurement review mechanisms rather than media campaigns.
It further stated that while it recognised the media’s responsibility to scrutinise public institutions and expenditure, such scrutiny should be based on accuracy, balance and proper context.
