NSCDC CG Visits Minna Emir, Families of Dead Detainees, Vows No Shield for Culprits

….Audi assures presidential panel of full cooperation, says officers in protective custody

By: Michael Mike

The Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Prof. Ahmed Audi, has assured the families of detainees who died in the Corps’ custody in Niger State that no officer found culpable in the incident will be shielded from justice.

Audi gave the assurance during a condolence visit to the Emir of Minna, Alhaji (Dr.) Umar Farouk Bahago, as well as the parents of the deceased and the family of the survivor.

The visit came as the Federal Government continues its investigation into the deaths, with the Presidency having constituted a high-powered committee to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine responsibility.

The NSCDC boss, who personally met with the affected families, expressed condolences over the deaths and acknowledged the grief suffered by the families and the wider community.

He pledged that the Corps would cooperate fully with the presidential investigative committee, stressing that justice and transparency would take precedence over institutional considerations.

Audi said relevant NSCDC personnel had already been placed in protective custody to ensure their availability to investigators and facilitate an unhindered investigation.

“The Corps will not shield anyone found culpable,” the NSCDC chief assured the families, according to a statement by the Corps’ National Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi.

The development marks a further step by the Corps to demonstrate cooperation with the federal investigation into the controversial deaths in custody.

Audi also used the visit to participate in the third- and seventh-day prayers for the deceased, noting the cultural and spiritual importance of the observances to the bereaved Muslim families.

He prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased and strength for their families as they mourned their loss.

Responding on behalf of the traditional institution and the affected families, the Emir of Minna expressed appreciation to the NSCDC commandant-general for personally visiting the community and identifying with the families during their period of mourning.

The traditional ruler also acknowledged the administrative measures taken by the Corps and Audi’s assurance of cooperation with the presidential investigative committee.

The NSCDC said the visit was intended not only as a condolence gesture but also as an opportunity to reassure the affected families and the public that the circumstances surrounding the deaths would be subjected to investigation.

The Corps maintained that all relevant personnel and records would be made available to the presidential panel as it works to establish the facts surrounding the incident.

NSCDC CG Visits Minna Emir, Families of Dead Detainees, Vows No Shield for Culprits

NIGCOMSAT Fires Back: No Manipulation in NIGCOMSAT-2A, 2B Deal

By: Michael Mike

Satellite firm challenges bid-rigging claims, says BPP rules guided multi-billion-naira procurement

The Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) has thrown out allegations of manipulation in the procurement of the NIGCOMSAT-2A and NIGCOMSAT-2B satellites, declaring that the multi-billion-naira exercise was subjected to uniform technical, financial, security and compliance scrutiny in line with public procurement rules.

The satellite operator, in a detailed response to a September 18 report by Daily Post, rejected suggestions that the procurement was structured to favour particular bidders, describing the publication as a combination of “unverified assertions and selective accounts” that could give a false impression of a compromised process.

NIGCOMSAT’s defence comes amid scrutiny of the procurement of the two satellites, which the company described as a critical component of Nigeria’s digital infrastructure and communications security architecture.

The company insisted that no bidder was given preferential treatment, stressing that every participant was assessed against the same requirements under applicable procurement laws, guidelines and procedures of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).

It said the successful bidders were not selected on the basis of a single technical or financial criterion but emerged from an overall assessment covering technical responsiveness, financial compliance, delivery capacity, project risks, security considerations and long-term value to the Federal Government.

“The successful bidders emerged from that overall assessment, not from the preference or influence of any individual or interest group,” NIGCOMSAT said.

The company also rejected an apparent argument that a bidder’s previous contractual relationship with NIGCOMSAT or performance under an earlier contract should have translated into an automatic advantage in the new competition.

According to the satellite firm, previous participation in government contracts does not confer an entitlement to future awards, adding that failure to win a fresh competitive procurement could not, on its own, constitute evidence of manipulation.

NIGCOMSAT maintained that each procurement exercise must be judged on its own evaluation criteria and the evidence presented by competing bidders.

The company said interpreting the non-selection of a previous contractor as proof of wrongdoing would undermine the principle of competitive procurement.

It further pushed back against issues raised about the administration of the organisation, revealing that its current management inherited a salary structure that had remained unchanged for 17 years.

NIGCOMSAT said it had initiated steps to review the structure through the relevant government approval channels.

It also disclosed that management was working to resolve outstanding obligations associated with official assignments while tightening internal procedures governing authorisation and reimbursement.

A significant part of NIGCOMSAT’s response centred on the selection of Hughes Network Systems’ JUPITER platform, with the company rejecting what it called speculative conclusions drawn from reported Chapter 11 proceedings involving Hughes Satellite Systems.

NIGCOMSAT said the report did not demonstrate that the proceedings had impaired Hughes Network Systems’ technical capacity, contractual obligations or ability to deliver the ground infrastructure required under the satellite programme.

It argued that the financial or corporate circumstances of a related entity could not automatically be transferred to the specific company involved in the procurement without evidence establishing an impact on its ability to perform the contract.

“A reported corporate or financial development involving a related entity does not, on its own, establish that NIGCOMSAT’s procurement decision was defective,” the company said.

NIGCOMSAT said any assessment of the deal should instead be based on technical evaluation, contractual due diligence and verified evidence.

The satellite company challenged any bidder or interested party with substantive objections to the procurement to invoke the statutory mechanisms provided for procurement reviews.

Rather than using media reports to challenge the outcome, it urged parties with legitimate grievances to pursue the formal channels established under the procurement framework.

NIGCOMSAT, however, acknowledged the media’s role in scrutinising public institutions and government expenditure, saying such scrutiny remained important in a democracy.

But it insisted that reporting on sensitive public procurements should be grounded in accuracy, balance and a proper understanding of the processes involved.

Beyond the controversy, NIGCOMSAT said the NIGCOMSAT-2A and NIGCOMSAT-2B programme was designed to strengthen Nigeria’s strategic communications infrastructure.

The company said the satellites would help improve communications resilience and extend broadband services to underserved communities while supporting national security, education, healthcare, broadcasting and other sectors of the economy.

Given the strategic and financial implications of the project, NIGCOMSAT said it had incorporated technical, financial, legal and project-continuity safeguards into the procurement and implementation framework.

The company consequently stood by both the integrity of the procurement process and its outcome, declaring that external pressure and commercial interests would not be allowed to compromise the project.

Its response effectively shifts the focus of the controversy from allegations of procurement manipulation to the documentary evidence underpinning the evaluation, award and due-diligence processes for a satellite programme expected to play a significant role in Nigeria’s digital and communications infrastructure.

NIGCOMSAT Fires Back: No Manipulation in NIGCOMSAT-2A, 2B Deal

JBS $2.5bn Livestock Deal: Civil Society Demands MoU Disclosure, Impact Assessment

By: Michael Mike

A coalition of Nigerian civil society organisations, farmers’ and pastoralist groups, and youth, women, environmental and animal-welfare organisations has demanded full disclosure of the Federal Government’s proposed $2.5 billion investment deal with global meat company, JBS, warning that decisions being taken behind closed doors could reshape Nigeria’s land, water and food systems.

The coalition made the demand at the end of a three-day strategy workshop on JBS engagement and industrial livestock expansion held in Abuja from September 22 to 24, 2026.

The groups said the proposed investment, which would establish six industrial meat-processing facilities across Nigeria, was linked to the Federal Government’s National Livestock Transformation Plan and the Nigeria Livestock Master Plan 2026–2040.

They said nearly two years after the Federal Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with JBS, the agreement had yet to be made public, while no Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) relating to the project had been published.

The coalition said it was not opposed to agricultural investment but insisted that an investment capable of transforming the country’s livestock and food systems must be transparent, accountable and subject to meaningful participation by affected communities.

It expressed concern over the lack of public access to the project’s financing arrangements, environmental and social assessments, land allocation agreements, incentive packages and records of consultations with communities.

According to the coalition, the headline figure of $2.5 billion may be publicly known, but the lender terms, allocation of funds and beneficial ownership of private investment vehicles involved in the project remain undisclosed.

The groups further said Freedom of Information requests submitted to the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, the Ogun State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the Niger State Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries seeking the MoU, related agreements, ESIAs and records of engagement with JBS had not been honoured.

The coalition warned that without access to such information, Nigerians could not determine whether public land and resources were being committed in ways that primarily benefit private interests.

It said it would pursue lawful avenues available under the Freedom of Information Act 2011 to secure disclosure.

Of particular concern to the coalition were communities in Niger State, which it said were at the frontline of the livestock expansion and had reported grievances relating to land acquisition, including resettlement issues, unfulfilled promises and access to water.

The groups also expressed solidarity with communities in Niger and Ogun states, saying their rights must be protected as the industrial livestock expansion proceeds.

They called for comprehensive and independent environmental and social impact assessments covering the cumulative effects of the proposed development on land, water and ecosystems before any further land allocation, approval or construction.

The coalition also demanded genuine consultation with farmers, pastoralists, women, youth and civil society, including what it described as the free, prior and informed consent of affected communities.

It urged the Federal Government to disclose all agreements and contracts connected to the JBS investment, as well as land allocation arrangements, incentives, financing terms and the beneficial ownership of private investment vehicles involved.

The coalition further called for enforceable safeguards to protect smallholder farmers and pastoralists’ access to land and markets, waterways and groundwater, while also addressing animal welfare and public health concerns.

It said the livestock reforms must be implemented in a manner consistent with Nigeria’s commitments on climate change, biodiversity and open government, including transparent budgets, grievance mechanisms and independent monitoring involving civil society.

The groups said Nigeria already had functioning food systems supported by pastoralists, smallholder farmers and traditional producers, arguing that these systems should be strengthened rather than displaced by industrial expansion.

They also urged greater investment in agroecology, indigenous seeds and resilient local food systems that could strengthen the livelihoods of farmers and pastoralists.

The coalition raised concerns about JBS’s international record, citing what it described as links between the company’s supply chain and deforestation in Brazil, as well as allegations concerning labour and land rights.

It also referred to what it said was the company’s recent removal of explicit protections for Indigenous peoples and land rights from its human rights policy and its abandonment of its Net Zero 2040 climate and zero-deforestation pledges.

The coalition further pointed to Australia, where JBS entered the meat-processing sector in 2007, saying the Nigerian government should draw lessons from that experience as it considers the proposed investment.

The groups argued that increased production alone should not be equated with food security, stressing that the distribution of benefits, control of resources and protection of farmers, communities, animals and ecosystems were also critical.

They said the proposed investment must therefore be assessed not only in terms of its promised capital injection and industrial capacity, but also its implications for the people and natural resources underpinning Nigeria’s food system.

“Transparency is not optional. It is the foundation of food security,” the coalition said, insisting that Nigeria’s food future must be built on public accountability, food sovereignty, environmental integrity and the voices of the people who produce the nation’s food.

The coalition said Nigeria had the benefit of hindsight from other countries and urged the government to ensure that agreements capable of transforming the country’s food system were not concluded behind closed doors.

It maintained that affected communities must be heard before, rather than after, decisions concerning their land, water and livelihoods are taken.

JBS $2.5bn Livestock Deal: Civil Society Demands MoU Disclosure, Impact Assessment