ABUJA, Nigeria — An anti-corruption organisation has called for an investigation into N60.1 billion in federal road-contract payments to a company managed by a former campaign supporter of David Umahi, Nigeria’s minister of works.
The Human and Environmental Development Agenda, or HEDA Resource Centre, made the demand after a BusinessDay investigation reported that Reinforced Global Resources Limited received 27 payments from the Federal Ministry of Works between 2024 and 2026.
The payments totalled about N60.08 billion, according to the investigation, which was subsequently reported by News Express.
As of Monday, September 28, 2026, Umahi, Reinforced Global Resources, and the federal government had not publicly responded to the allegations contained in the reports.
Payments Began After Umahi Became Minister
Reinforced Global Resources is managed and co-owned by Joshua Okoro, a former student leader who campaigned for Umahi during his 2023 bid for the Ebonyi South Senate seat, according to the reports.
The company was incorporated in 2011 but had no recorded history of receiving federal contract payments until April 2024, about eight months after Umahi became minister of works.
Since then, the Works Ministry has accounted for all of the company’s recorded federal payments cited in the investigation.
The largest amounts identified were connected to two road projects in southeastern Nigeria.
About N30.06 billion was paid towards the Enugu-Abakaliki-Ogoja Road, while another N15.72 billion was linked to the Ugep-Abaomoge-Okposi Road, according to the investigation.
Questions Raised Over Advance Payments
The reporting also raised questions about the structure and frequency of advance payments made to Reinforced Global Resources.
The BusinessDay findings, said procurement specialists had questioned whether the payments complied with Nigeria’s Public Procurement Act and the Fiscal Responsibility Act.
Section 35 of the Public Procurement Act 2007 provides for mobilisation fees of no more than 15 per cent, subject to specified guarantees, and states that after a mobilisation fee is paid, further payment should not be made without an interim performance certificate issued under the contract.
The investigation alleged that Reinforced Global Resources received several advance payments in succession.
The reports also said the contracts were awarded while the company was involved in an ongoing matter with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
No finding of wrongdoing against the company arising from that matter was cited in the reports.
HEDA Calls for Independent Investigation
Following publication of the investigation, HEDA called on anti-corruption and law-enforcement agencies to examine the contract awards, payments, and procurement procedures involving Reinforced Global Resources.
The organisation said scrutiny should extend to the procurement documents, payment records, contract-award procedures, project completion certificates, beneficial ownership information, and possible conflict-of-interest disclosures.
HEDA Chairman Olanrewaju Suraju said the allegations should be subjected to due process.
“Where billions of naira in public funds are involved, Nigerians are entitled to know whether the procurement process was transparent, competitive and compliant with the law,” Suraju said.
“We therefore call on the appropriate anti-corruption and law-enforcement agencies to urgently investigate the award, execution and payments associated with these contracts and establish whether any laws or financial regulations were breached.”
HEDA said an allegation should not be treated as proof of wrongdoing and called for any investigation to determine the facts.
“HEDA emphasises that an allegation is not a conviction,” Suraju said. “However, if an investigation establishes wrongdoing, anyone found culpable should face the appropriate legal consequences, irrespective of political party, office, influence or connections.”
The organisation urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, and the Bureau of Public Procurement to examine the transactions.
Neither the reports cited nor HEDA’s statement established that Umahi personally directed any unlawful payment or that Reinforced Global Resources had been found guilty of breaching procurement law.
