Retired federal director and Afenifere chieftain Akin Fapohunda has alleged that Nigeria wasted ₦60 billion on a satellite project that proceeded despite objections from government officials responsible for reviewing it.
According to the interview, aired on Symphony TV on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, Fapohunda said his office advised against awarding the satellite contract, but the project was implemented regardless.
“We wasted 60 billion naira when money was money. We gave contract to… the United Kingdom to launch satellite. UK is not a satellite country. You got Pakistan or Russia or India or China. These are the issues we raised fundamentally, not even corruption,” he said.
Fapohunda added that he chose to retire from public service after the project went ahead against his team’s recommendations. “The project was implemented but… some satellite disappear, some fell down. We have not got value for money up till now,” he said.
According to the interview, Fapohunda argued that the controversy was rooted more in poor policy decisions and the failure to follow professional advice than in allegations of corruption, maintaining that his resignation reflected his disagreement with how the project was handled.
