The concessionaire for the Abuja-Lagos Super Highway and High-Speed Train projects, AEC Unity Network Limited, has denied any affiliation with the AEC-Geofocus Consortium (Geofocus).

The 470-kilometer road and high-speed train projects are part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope initiative to improve national infrastructure, and AEC Unity Network made it clear that Geofocus has no involvement in their development, funding, building, or operation.

The company emphasized in a statement issued on Sunday that it is the only concessionaire approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria, having obtained approvals from the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), the Federal Ministry of Works, and the Federal Ministry of Finance.

In the statement, AEC Unity Network’s legal consultant, Barrister Ayodeji Ademola, stated that since AEC-Geofocus was not involved in the Super Highway project’s inception, it has no legal foundation upon which to base any claims.

AEC Unity Network reiterated in the statement that it is the only concessionaire authorized by the Nigerian Federal Government to plan, fund, build, run, and maintain the 470-kilometer expressway and high-speed rail that connects Abuja and Lagos.

The statement claims that the Federal Ministry of Works, the Federal Ministry of Finance, and the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) have given their permissions to the corporation.

Idris, who claimed to be Director of Operations for AEC-Geofocus, had in the publication described the company as a consortium of engineers, planners, and investors that had 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 minimize 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.

“The $16 billion project will be led by AEC-Geofocus, a consortium of engineers, planners, and investors, and plans have been concluded to commence it by February this year, 2025,” Idris had asserted.

He said that the Lagos-Abuja corridor, spanning approximately 500 kilometers, will connect Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Kwara, Kogi, and Niger states before reaching Abuja, under a design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Maintain (DBFOM) model.

But in its sharp reaction, AEC Unity Network expressed surprise at the emergence of AEC-Geofocus out of the blue to make claims on a project it was never part of.

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.’”

“We categorically state that AEC Unity Network Limited has no relationship whatsoever with Engineer Mutiu Yinka Idris or Geofocus.”

“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 statement by Engineer Mutiu Yinka Idris, who claimed involvement in the projects on behalf of Geofocus in several media outlets and amplified on social media, is baseless and an attempt to mislead the public.

The company warned investors and the public to disregard any media advertisements or reports from Geofocus, describing them as unauthorized and misleading.

AEC Unity Network stated that its project is still in the planning stages, with no concurrent developments on the same corridor by any other entity.

To prevent confusion and potential fraud, AEC Unity Network urged local and foreign investors to verify information only through its official channels and avoid engaging with Geofocus on matters relating to the Abuja-Lagos Super Highway and High-Speed Train projects.

This infrastructure initiative, which includes a direct expressway and rail connection between Abuja and Lagos, is expected to enhance transportation efficiency and foster economic growth.

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.