Federal government payment records show that the National Space Research and Development Agency (NSRDA) disbursed a total of N746.7 million for projects with no apparent connection to space science all in one day.
FIJ found that in 14 separate payments to 13 distinct companies, NSRDA released over N700 million on June 15 for projects ranging from CNG buses and cement-block machines to hospital equipment, scholarships and a degradable-bag factory.
Among the 13 companies, Grandlegend Plus Limited got the largest payment of N104 million for the mobilisation for the construction of ICT laboratories in Suleja, Bosso and other locations.
Heritage Plus Multi Concepts Limited, the company with the second largest payment, got N88.9 million for logistics, transportation, feeding and stipends for indigent youth participating in a scholarship programme.
Selsa Logistics Services Limited, the only company paid twice by the NSRDA, got N84.8 million for two separate projects. One was worth N61.2 million for the final payment for CNG buses for mass transit in Minna, Niger State. The other was a N23.6 million for mobilisation for six-seater minibuses for subsidised commuter services for schoolchildren and others in Kagara and surrounding areas.
Hydrocore Solutions Nigeria Limited, another company, got N78.7 million for the provision of computers and laptops to youths in Chanchaga and surrounding areas.
Tgold Light Business Limited received N74.5 million to train youths in artificial intelligence in Chanchaga and surrounding areas.
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Bakus Multilinks Nig. Limited received N56.4 million for the provision of ICT equipment, laptops and accessories to support youths participating in a scholarship programme in Zone B, North Central, Niger East Senatorial District, Niger State.
The NSRDA also paid Ziva Brennan Dynamic Limited N52 million as part of a contract for an automatic autoblocking cement block-making machine with a cement mixer for brick production, intended to empower graduates in Minna, Niger State.
Similarly, Business Communication Nigeria Limited received N41.9 million as mobilisation for monitoring and evaluating the implementation of a tuition and scholarship support project for indigent students in Zone B, North Central, Niger East Senatorial District, Niger State.
In the same vein, Software Business Solution Consulting Nigeria got N41 million as a 28 per cent mobilisation payment for consultancy services to identify, select and test students for a scholarship programme in Zone B, North Central, Niger East Senatorial District, Niger State.
The problem with these payments is that they appear great but fall outside the institution’s mandate. On its website, NASDRA says it is “on an innovative mission to empower Nigeria to build indigenous competence in developing, designing, and building cutting-edge hardware and software for space science technology”.
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