Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo has awarded a N22 billion contract for the first phase of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) headquarters in Abuja to a company linked to Nasiru Haladu Danu, a businessman accused of serious fraud and who reportedly fled the country to avoid investigation.
The contract, officially valued at N21.68 billion inclusive of taxes, was announced by Mr Keyamo during a groundbreaking ceremony last week.
He described the project as a key step to build a modern facility for air traffic management at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, with completion expected within 30 months.
It was noted that the deal went to Messrs NHD Interbiz Projects Limited following what officials called a transparent and competitive bidding process under the Public Procurement Act.
However, Peoples Gazette reported exclusively that NHD Interbiz is owned by Nasiru Haladu Danu, a figure with a controversial past.
The publication cited two anonymous sources familiar with the arrangement, claiming Mr Keyamo deliberately avoided mentioning Mr Danu’s name in his public statement.
The sources suggested the award fits a broader pattern of questionable contracts under the current administration, allegedly aimed at raising funds for the 2027 elections.
Mr Danu, who has ties to the ruling party and has worked on projects for the NNPC and pipeline security in the past, faces multiple fraud allegations.
In 2019, he was reportedly arrested at London Heathrow Airport over claims involving a fake passport and large sums of cash linked to money laundering.
That same year, one of his companies secured a crude oil-for-petroleum swap deal with the NNPC.
In 2021, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) probed him over the alleged diversion of N51 billion from Nigeria Customs Service funds, with some reports linking transfers to a foundation associated with the Buhari family.
Following the probe under then-EFCC chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa, Mr Danu is said to have fled to Dubai on a private jet to evade arrest.
Both Mr Keyamo and Mr Danu have previously denied corruption allegations, and Mr Danu has taken legal action over past claims against him.
The award has sparked questions about due diligence in the procurement process, especially given Mr Danu’s history.
Officials have stressed that the contract adheres to due process, but the fresh allegations are likely to fuel ongoing debate about transparency in government contracts.
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