WorldStage— The Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) has defended the integrity of the procurement process for the NIGCOMSAT-2A and NIGCOMSAT-2B satellite programme, dismissing allegations of impropriety in the exercise as false and misleading.
In a statement issued by its Management in Abuja, the satellite company said the procurement was conducted competitively and transparently in compliance with the Public Procurement Act and guidelines of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).
The statement was in response to a report published by Daily Post on September 18, 2026, concerning the concluded procurement process for the two satellite projects.
NIGCOMSAT said all participating bidders were assessed against predetermined criteria, including technical responsiveness, financial compliance, delivery capability, project risks, security considerations and long-term value to the Federal Government.
It rejected claims that the outcome was influenced by the performance of a particular bidder in selected areas, stressing that the successful bidders emerged from a holistic assessment of the procurement requirements.
According to the company, participation in a competitive procurement process does not confer an entitlement to selection, adding that neither previous relationships with NIGCOMSAT nor performance under earlier contracts guarantees selection in a subsequent procurement exercise.
On the report’s reference to Chapter 11 proceedings involving Hughes Satellite Systems and the selection of Hughes Network Systems’ JUPITER platform, NIGCOMSAT described the connection as speculative.
It said the report failed to establish any link between the corporate development referenced and Hughes Network Systems’ technical capacity or its ability to deliver the ground infrastructure component of the project.
The company also addressed concerns over staff welfare, saying the current management inherited a salary structure that had not been reviewed for 17 years and had commenced a review through the required government approval processes.
NIGCOMSAT added that it was addressing outstanding obligations relating to official assignments while strengthening its internal authorisation and reimbursement procedures.
The company accused unnamed vested interests and lobbyists of attempting to undermine the concluded procurement process through what it described as a sponsored campaign, saying it would not allow the media to be used to arm-twist the institution.
NIGCOMSAT said its Legal Department was reviewing the publication and would take appropriate legal action over what it described as defamatory imputations against the company and the procurement process.
The company, however, said it remained open to legitimate scrutiny, urging parties with concerns over the procurement to use statutory and procurement review channels rather than relying on unverified claims in the media.
NIGCOMSAT said the NIGCOMSAT-2A and NIGCOMSAT-2B projects were critical to Nigeria’s digital infrastructure, national security and socio-economic development, particularly in strengthening communications resilience, expanding broadband coverage and improving connectivity in underserved communities.
It reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the programme with technical, financial, legal and project-continuity safeguards, while protecting Nigeria’s strategic interests.
