The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has urged the Ministry of Steel Development and the Bureau of Public Procurement to ensure transparency in the procurement process for a Transaction Adviser to revitalize the Ajaokuta Steel Complex Limited (ASCL) and the National Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO).
In a letter signed by CISLAC’s Executive Director, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani on Thursday, the organization expressed concerns over potential irregularities in the procurement process.
CISLAC emphasized the importance of a rigorous and transparent process in selecting a qualified adviser, stating, “The process should uphold public trust by strictly adhering to due process to ensure the selection of the most competent adviser.”
CISLAC pointed out several violations, including the failure to specify the weight assigned to quality and cost factors, non-disclosure of technical scores, and the absence of explicit evaluation criteria.
The organization also raised concerns over the omission of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) from the procurement process.
With federal investments in ASCL and NIOMCO exceeding $7 billion over 40 years without yielding results, CISLAC warned that Nigeria cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the past.
The organization urged the Ministry of Steel Development and the Bureau of Public Procurement to intervene and ensure a fair and transparent process.
