AEC Unity Network Limited, the officially recognized concessionaire for the Abuja-Lagos Super Highway and High-Speed Train projects, has denied any association with AEC-Geofocus Consortium (Geofocus) and its representatives, following recent false claims circulating in the media.
The company clarified that Geofocus has no role in the planning, financing, construction or operation of the 470-kilometer superhighway and high-speed rail projects, which are part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda to boost national infrastructure.
In a statement released on Sunday, the company emphasized that it is the sole concessionaire authorized by the Federal Government of Nigeria, having received approvals from the Federal Ministry of Works, the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC).
The company drew public attention to misleading statements made by one Engineer Mutiu Yinka Idris, who claimed involvement in the projects on behalf of Geofocus.
The claims, published in several media outlets and amplified on social media were described by AEC Unity Network as baseless and an attempt to mislead the public.
The reaction by the AEC Unity Network may have been provoked by media publications credited to one Engineer Mutiu Yinka Idris where he asserted that AEC Geofocus was in charge of the project for the federal governmmechanis
Idris who claimed to be Director of Operations for AEC-Geofocus, had in the publications described the company as a consortium of engineers, planners, and investors which had has successfully attracted $16 billion from Middle Eastern investors, with additional interest from European financial institutions and the World Bank.
He had also claimed that the financial framework was designed to minimise government expenditure, safeguard public funds and prevent cost overruns through an efficient risk-sharing mechanism.
Idris had assured stakeholders of a grand project flag-off before February 2025, reiterating AEC-Geofocus’ commitment to delivering world-class infrastructure.
But in a statement, signed by Ayodeji Ademola, Esq of Dipo Okpeseyi (SAN) & Co Chambers, legal consultant to AEC Unity Network Limited, the concessionaire underscores the company’s commitment to transparency and its exclusive mandate to execute the project.
In the statement AEC Unity Network reaffirmed that it is the sole concessionaire authorized by the Federal Government of Nigeria to design, finance, construct, operate, and maintain the 470-kilometer superhighway and high-speed rail linking Abuja and Lagos.
Part of the statement read: “We emphatically state that AEC Unity Network Limited has no relationship whatsoever with AEC-Geofocus Consortium or Geofocus. Any claims made by Geofocus regarding involvement in the projects are “spurious and false.”
The company’s approvals are from the Federal Ministry of Works, the Federal Ministry of Finance, and the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), it said.
The statement also identified one of Geofocus’s sponsors as Mr. Fisayo Ishola of FANE, and alleged that the individuals and entities are engaging in deceptive practices to gain undue recognition for projects they are not affiliated with.
“We categorically state that AEC Unity Network Limited has no relationship whatsoever with Engineer Mutiu Yinka Idris, Prince Fisayo, or Geofocus,” the company stated.
AEC Unity Network warned the public, particularly local and foreign investors, to disregard any claims or publications by Geofocus or its sponsors.
The company stressed that its projects are still in the planning stages and that no other concurrent developments are authorized on the Abuja-Lagos corridor.
“These fraudulent claims are completely at variance with our proposed infrastructure plans and are intended to confuse and defraud unsuspecting stakeholders,” the statement added.
The Abuja-Lagos Super Highway and High-Speed Train projects are cornerstone initiatives under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, aimed at enhancing national infrastructure and economic development.
AEC Unity Network reiterated its commitment to transparency and professionalism, urging the public to engage only through its official channels for accurate information about the projects.
The company warned investors and the public to disregard any media advertisements or reports from Geofocus, describing them as unauthorized and misleading.
