The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), is facing an unprecedented transparency challenge following a sweeping Freedom of Information (FOI) request demanding full disclosure of billions of naira in public funds, foreign investments, strategic partnerships and project outcomes managed by the agency between 2023 and 2026.
The request seeks a comprehensive account of the administration of the NASENI Statutory Fund, including revenues derived from the statutory 0.25% levy on the profits of companies operating in Nigeria, appropriations from the Federal Government, foreign investments, development financing arrangements and the implementation status of flagship projects announced by the agency.
At the centre of the demand are questions concerning the deployment, management and measurable impact of some of NASENI's most publicized investment initiatives, including the reported $2 billion Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Development Programme (AMEDP), strategic partnerships with foreign institutions, and the agency's ambitious plans for local manufacturing and technology domestication.
The request further seeks disclosure of agreements entered into with international partners, including arrangements involving the China Development Bank and Chinese technical partners for solar cell manufacturing, as well as records relating to the agency's reported $425 million solar production expansion programme. Details of private sector co-investors, project financing structures, local content commitments and implementation benchmarks have also been demanded.
The request, addressed to Executive Vice Chairman Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, was not responded to within 7 days, culminating in the case of Aigbokhan President v Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu & 2 ORS (Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/957/2026. The suit is seeking the declaration court that failure of the agency to release information relating to rural electrification, irrigation infrastructure and technology deployment across the country is a breach of Freedom of Information Act of 2011.
According to the applicant- President Aigbokhan, Esq “This case signals a growing insistence on measurable accountability in public spending. NASENI occupies a strategic position in the management of public resources earmarked for industrial development, renewable energy, local manufacturing and technological advancement. Consequently, the agency's records are germane to industrial revolution of the country.”
The Federal High Court. On 3 June 2026, granted leave for judicial review and adjourned the matter to 22 September 2026 for further proceedings.
The proceedings are expected to test the scope of transparency obligations imposed on agencies entrusted with substantial public funds and international investment portfolios.
The case raises broader questions about public accountability in the management of strategic development projects and whether public institutions can continue to rely on broad policy announcements without providing verifiable evidence of implementation, expenditure and impact.
Recent developments within Nigeria's public sector have reinforced the growing expectation that agencies responsible for multi-billion-naira projects must be prepared to account for every allocation, investment commitment, memorandum of understanding and project outcome.
The conviction of the Minister of Power on charges of financial impropriety and project mismanagement sends a seismic shockwave through the energy sector, underscoring a critical era of zero tolerance for administrative opacity. As the judiciary begins to hold the highest levels of power accountable for the "black hole" of energy investments
The era in which public institutions could rely solely on press statements and ceremonial project launches is rapidly giving way to one in which documentary evidence, measurable results and statutory compliance are increasingly demanded by citizens, investors and the courts.
At stake is not merely compliance with an information request. The proceedings present a significant opportunity to determine whether one of Nigeria's most strategically positioned technology agencies can demonstrate, through verifiable records, that its ambitious investment announcements have translated into tangible outcomes for Nigerians.
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