National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) is facing increased scrutiny over its management of public funds, foreign investments and major development projects following a Freedom of Information (FOI) lawsuit seeking extensive disclosures from the agency.
Gatekeepers News reports that the suit, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeks details of billions of naira in statutory allocations, foreign investment arrangements, development financing agreements and the implementation status of key projects executed by the agency between 2023 and 2026.
The applicant in the case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/957/2026, is Aigbokhan President, while NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, and two other parties are listed as defendants.
The legal action followed the agency’s alleged failure to respond within the timeframe stipulated by law to an FOI request submitted to Halilu.
The applicant is asking the court to declare that NASENI’s refusal to provide information relating to rural electrification projects, irrigation infrastructure, technology deployment initiatives and other public programmes constitutes a violation of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.
At the heart of the dispute is a demand for a comprehensive account of the administration of the NASENI Statutory Fund, including revenues generated through the agency’s statutory 0.25 per cent levy on the profits of companies operating in Nigeria, federal government appropriations, foreign investments and development financing arrangements.
The request also seeks records relating to some of NASENI’s high-profile investment initiatives, including the reported $2 billion Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Development Programme (AMEDP), partnerships with foreign institutions and programmes designed to promote local manufacturing and technology transfer.
Further disclosures are being sought on agreements reportedly entered into with international partners, including arrangements involving the China Development Bank and Chinese technical partners on solar cell manufacturing projects.
The applicant is also requesting details of NASENI’s reported $425 million solar production expansion programme, including financing structures, private-sector co-investors, local content commitments, project milestones and implementation outcomes.
According to the applicant, the information is necessary to determine whether public resources allocated to strategic industrial and technological development initiatives have been effectively utilised.
“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 the industrial revolution of the country,” Aigbokhan stated.
Court records show that the Federal High Court granted leave for judicial review on June 3, 2026, and subsequently adjourned the matter until September 22, 2026, for further proceedings.
The outcome of the case is expected to test the scope of transparency obligations placed on public institutions responsible for managing significant public funds and international investment portfolios.
