In a firm response to recent misleading media reports, AEC Unity Network Limited has denied any ties to the AEC-Geofocus Consortium (Geofocus) and its claims regarding the Abuja-Lagos Super Highway and High-Speed Train projects.
The company, which is the officially recognized concessionaire for the 470-kilometer corridor project, emphasized its exclusive mandate to design, finance, construct, and operate the superhighway and high-speed rail linking Abuja and Lagos—key infrastructure initiatives under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.
AEC Unity Network’s clarification follows a series of claims made by Engineer Mutiu Yinka Idris, alleged to be the Director of Operations for Geofocus.
Idris had claimed that the consortium was in charge of the projects and had secured significant investment, including $16 billion in funding from Middle Eastern investors.
He also asserted that the project would soon be launched, with a grand flag-off expected before February 2025.
However, in a statement issued on Sunday, AEC Unity Network vehemently rejected these assertions, stating that the claims were “baseless” and “false.”
The company reiterated that it had received necessary approvals from the Federal Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Finance, and the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), and that it alone was entrusted with the projects.
Legal consultant Ayodeji Ademola, acting on behalf of AEC Unity Network, stressed that the company was the sole legitimate entity authorized to execute the Abuja-Lagos projects, emphasizing the need for transparency and professional conduct throughout the process.
“These false claims by Geofocus are not just misleading; they aim to deceive stakeholders and misappropriate the credibility of the national projects we are leading,” Ademola stated.
AEC Unity Network also highlighted the role of individuals within the Geofocus consortium, including Mr. Fisayo Ishola of FANE, suggesting that these parties were engaging in deceptive practices to gain recognition for projects in which they had no involvement.
The company also sought to reassure the public that the Abuja-Lagos Super Highway and High-Speed Train projects remain firmly under the planning and approval stages, and no external entities, including Geofocus, are authorized to act on behalf of the Federal Government in relation to these initiatives.
With an emphasis on integrity and professionalism, AEC Unity Network urged investors, contractors, and the public to disregard any announcements or media reports emanating from Geofocus or its representatives, underscoring that all valid information related to the projects would be issued through its official channels.