By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Kaduna Polytechnic has rejected the highest bid submitted for the lease and operation of its hotels, a decision that has raised questions about transparency and compliance with Nigeria’s public procurement process. The development followed a competitive bidding exercise conducted in December 2025 for a five-year lease of Kadpoly Hotels in Kaduna State.The federal institution had earlier advertised the opportunity, inviting interested companies to submit technical and financial proposals. According to documents reviewed by this reporter, nine firms participated in the process.Messrs. Trophy Hotels Ltd, based on Gwari Avenue, Barnawa GRA, Kaduna, emerged as the highest bidder with an offer of ₦191,343,600, significantly higher than Detitorye Enterprise, which bid ₦96 million, and Hotel 17, which offered ₦26 million.
However, a letter dated 16 December 2025, titled “Letter of Debriefing for Opening of Technical and Financial Proposals for Lease of Kadpoly Hotels,” informed Trophy Hotels Ltd that it was not selected. The letter stated that the lease had been awarded to another firm, whose identity was not disclosed.The document, referenced KPT/STDB/PROC/CA/LEASE/PRE.Q/2025/VOL.1/9, was issued from the Office of the Rector and signed by the Director of Procurement, Engr. Lawal Sani. It described Trophy Hotels Ltd as “not a responsive bidder” following the evaluation by the Polytechnic’s technical board sub-committee.This decision has drawn attention because Trophy Hotels Ltd had earlier been pre-qualified for the process. In a separate letter dated 28 November 2025, the Polytechnic confirmed that the company met the eligibility requirements outlined in the advertisement and was cleared to participate in the proposal opening held on 3 December 2025.
The company also confirmed that it submitted both technical and financial proposals in line with the guidelines and paid the mandatory ₦10,000 non-refundable tender fee into Kaduna Polytechnic’s Remita account. When contacted for clarification, the Polytechnic’s spokesperson, Mr. Godwin Ayegba, did not respond to questions regarding the reasons for disqualifying the highest bidder or the identity of the successful firm as of the time of filing this report.In a statement, Trophy Hotels Ltd expressed concern over the outcome, arguing that the debriefing letter failed to provide specific reasons for its disqualification despite submitting the highest bid. The company also faulted the Polytechnic for not publicly disclosing the successful bidder.“
Federal Polytechnic Kaduna is a public institution guided by the Public Procurement Act. The process must be transparent, and bidders are entitled to clear explanations,” the company stated.Unverified findings suggest that the Polytechnic may have disqualified the firm on technical grounds, reportedly over concerns about how the facility would be operated. The institution has not officially confirmed this claim.The controversy comes amid broader concerns over land management at Kaduna Polytechnic. The institution has previously faced allegations of irregular land allocations at its bypass campus opposite Television Village in Kaduna South, where private developments are reportedly ongoing. Human rights groups have called for greater accountability in the management of the institution’s assets. Further investigations into both the hotel lease process and the alleged land allocations are ongoing.
