The Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) has pushed back against allegations of irregularities surrounding the procurement of the NIGCOMSAT-2A and NIGCOMSAT-2B satellite programme, insisting that the process was conducted transparently and in line with Nigeria’s procurement regulations.
In a statement responding to a September 18, 2026 report by Daily Post, the satellite company described the allegations as misleading and rejected suggestions that the procurement exercise was manipulated to favour specific bidders.
NIGCOMSAT said the process followed applicable procurement laws and guidelines issued by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), with all participating companies assessed using the same technical, financial and compliance requirements.
The agency’s response comes amid scrutiny of the planned satellite programme and questions surrounding the selection process, staff welfare and the involvement of Hughes Network Systems.
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NIGCOMSAT Denies Procurement Process Was Compromised
NIGCOMSAT said the procurement exercise was carried out through a comprehensive evaluation rather than being determined by performance in any single area.
According to the agency, the assessment considered a range of factors, including technical responsiveness, financial compliance, delivery capability, project risks, security considerations and the long-term value of the proposed programme to the Federal Government.
The agency argued that strong performance in one particular aspect of a tender does not automatically determine the final procurement outcome.
“Performance in selective areas, however, does not determine the overall outcome of a procurement exercise,” NIGCOMSAT said.
The company also rejected the suggestion that the non-selection of a particular bidder should, by itself, be interpreted as evidence of wrongdoing.
It noted that previous contractual relationships or performance on earlier projects do not guarantee that a company will be selected in a subsequent competitive procurement exercise.
According to NIGCOMSAT, simply participating in a procurement process does not create an entitlement to ultimately win the contract.
Agency Points to Formal Procurement Review Channels
NIGCOMSAT said bidders or other parties with legitimate concerns about the process have access to established statutory mechanisms for challenging procurement decisions.
The agency cautioned against relying on media reports as substitutes for formal procurement review procedures.
It also warned against using public reports as a means of applying pressure on government institutions to change procurement outcomes.
While acknowledging the important role of the media in scrutinising public institutions and expenditure, NIGCOMSAT said such scrutiny should be based on accurate information, balance and appropriate context.
The agency maintained that concerns regarding the procurement should therefore be addressed through the relevant legal and regulatory channels.
NIGCOMSAT Responds to Staff Welfare Concerns
The satellite company also addressed concerns about employee welfare and outstanding financial obligations raised in the report.
NIGCOMSAT said its current management inherited a salary structure that had remained unchanged for 17 years.
According to the agency, management has begun the process of reviewing the structure through the required government approval procedures.
The company also said it was working to resolve outstanding obligations associated with official assignments.
At the same time, management is strengthening internal processes governing the authorisation and reimbursement of official expenses, it said.
NIGCOMSAT presented these measures as part of broader efforts to improve its internal systems while addressing inherited challenges.
Why Hughes Network Systems Is Part of the Debate
Another issue addressed by NIGCOMSAT concerns the selection of the Hughes Network Systems JUPITER platform for the satellite programme.
Questions had been raised about reported Chapter 11 proceedings involving Hughes Satellite Systems and what implications those developments might have for the proposed project.
NIGCOMSAT rejected the suggestion that proceedings involving a related corporate entity automatically demonstrate that Hughes Network Systems lacks the capacity to deliver the required ground infrastructure.
The agency said a corporate or financial development involving a related entity should not, by itself, be treated as proof that a procurement decision is defective.
Instead, it argued that the suitability of a contractor should be assessed using verified information, technical evaluations and contractual due diligence.
NIGCOMSAT said these considerations formed part of the broader assessment undertaken during the procurement process.
What NIGCOMSAT-2A and NIGCOMSAT-2B Mean for Nigeria
Beyond the procurement controversy, NIGCOMSAT described the NIGCOMSAT-2A and NIGCOMSAT-2B satellites as important components of Nigeria’s future digital infrastructure.
According to the agency, the programme is expected to strengthen the country’s communications resilience while expanding broadband coverage and improving connectivity in underserved communities.
The satellites are also expected to support a range of critical sectors.
These include national security, education, healthcare, broadcasting and economic development, areas where reliable communications infrastructure can play an important role.
NIGCOMSAT therefore said the programme should be viewed within the broader context of Nigeria’s digital infrastructure needs and long-term connectivity objectives.
Agency Says Strategic Safeguards Are in Place
NIGCOMSAT maintained that the scale and strategic importance of the satellite programme require appropriate safeguards across multiple areas.
The agency said the project is being implemented with technical, financial, legal and project-continuity safeguards designed to protect Nigeria’s interests.
It further stressed that it remains committed to safeguarding the country’s strategic interests throughout the programme.
The agency’s position is that the procurement process complied with established procedures and that the selection outcome followed a comprehensive assessment of the competing bids.
NIGCOMSAT Stands by Procurement Outcome
NIGCOMSAT’s response represents a firm rejection of the allegations raised in the September 18 report.
The agency insists that all bidders were assessed against the same requirements and that the final decision was based on a combination of technical, financial, security, delivery and long-term value considerations.
It also maintains that the selection of Hughes Network Systems’ JUPITER platform cannot reasonably be questioned solely on the basis of reported developments involving a related company without considering the contractor’s technical capacity, contractual position and due diligence findings.
As scrutiny of the NIGCOMSAT-2A and NIGCOMSAT-2B programme continues, the agency says interested parties with substantive procurement concerns should use the formal mechanisms provided under Nigeria’s procurement framework.
For NIGCOMSAT, the central issue remains the successful delivery of a satellite programme it considers critical to Nigeria’s communications infrastructure, broadband expansion and wider digital development.
The agency said it would remain committed to established procedures and would not allow external pressure or commercial interests to influence the procurement outcome.
