ABUJA, Nigeria – In a move that has reignited concerns over systemic corruption within the President Bola Tinubu administration, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has officially awarded the ₦21.68 billion contract for the construction of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) corporate headquarters to a firm controlled by controversial businessman Nasiru Haladu Danu.
The groundbreaking ceremony, held Thursday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, marked the commencement of the project by Messrs NHD Interbiz Projects Limited—a company investigators have directly linked to Danu, a high-ranking APC chieftain with a history of international legal entanglements.
the contractor’s controversial profile
The selection of NHD Interbiz Projects Limited has sparked immediate backlash from transparency advocates who point to Nasiru Danu’s documented history of financial scandals. Danu, a close associate of the current and previous administrations, was notoriously intercepted at London Heathrow Airport in 2019 while allegedly in possession of a fake Maltese passport and over £200,000 in cash.
Furthermore, Danu has previously been the subject of scrutiny regarding financial investigations involving the Nigeria Customs Service. The decision to award the contract to NHD Interbiz Projects Limited has led to calls from civil society for greater transparency in federal procurement processes, particularly concerning the vetting of contractors for high-value infrastructure projects.
project details and strategic goals
Minister Keyamo defended the investment as a vital component of the national aviation master plan. The contract, valued at ₦21,684,314,839.40, is scheduled for completion within 30 months. The facility is intended to serve as a centralized hub for NAMA’s administrative and technical operations in the Federal Capital Territory.
The proposed headquarters will include a modern Air Traffic Management (ATM) Centre, designed to integrate technical operations. NAMA’s Managing Director, Ahmed Farouk, stated that the agency has operated from rented spaces since 2020. He noted that the new permanent structure is expected to eliminate these recurring rental costs and improve overall operational efficiency.
concerns over procurement and oversight
Despite the administration’s emphasis on infrastructure development, the ₦22 billion award has drawn criticism from observers who question the prioritization of large-scale construction projects amid broader economic challenges. Some analysts suggest that the government must do more to demonstrate that such contracts are awarded based on rigorous competitive bidding and merit.
While the Minister has publicly instructed the contractor to adhere to strict standards and timelines, the association with previously investigated figures remains a point of contention. Transparency advocates continue to urge the Bureau of Public Procurement to provide further clarity on the criteria used to select the firm for this project.
