11 BIDS CONTEST FOR 16.55-KILOMETER ROADS UNDER AKS-RAAMP
Bids for the construction of 16.55-kilometer roads in Okobo and Ini Local Government Areas, under the upgrading component of the Akwa Ibom State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project, AKS-RAAMP have ended with 11 bids submitted by nine companies to compete for the job.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Offiong Offor presided over the bid closing / opening ceremony recently at AKS-RAAMP office, describing the exercise as a demonstration of due process, transparency and general standard practices operationalized by the project, as provided by the World Bank regulations.
Her words: “RAAMP is a frontline project of the ARISE agenda, under the current administration of Akwa Ibom State, led by His Excellency, the Governor, Pastor Umo Eno. All bidders should be rest assured of strict adherence to due process until the eventual emergence of the best team and whoever would win the job should know and be ready on his / her part to execute same under strict adherence to specifications in the design,”
Dr. Offor reiterated the Umo Eno administration’s commitment and determination towards developing the grassroots by improving upon the livelihood conditions of our rural communities. This would help to reduce rural – urban drift and lessen the pressure on facilities at the urban centers at the long run.
On his part, the State Project Coordinator of RAAMP, Pastor Gideon Akpan described all the bidders as stakeholders in the project, pointing out that “although it would not be possible for the nine companies to emerge winners, but certainly every participant would have something to learn and benefit from in the course of the exercise that they could leverage upon when subsequent opportunities arise either within or beyond the project.”
He therefore enjoined everyone to pay attention to little facts throughout the exercise and strengthen their knowledge on some technical details from procurement experts.
The Procurement Specialist of RAAMP, Mr. Etim Effiong explained that the 16.55-kilometer project was divided into two lots in two Local Government Areas, adding that a total of 11 bids were submitted by nine companies that were jostling for the job.
Effiong noted that no late submission of bid was recorded; one bid which had earlier been submitted by a company (name withheld) had been withdrawn by the owners, adding that as the exercise would progress, “information that would be read out would be limited to such as were permitted for public disclosure in line with the World Bank procurement regulation.”
Responding on behalf of other bidders, Engr. Bassey Bassey of Verini Construction Nigeria Limited expressed confidence and satisfaction from inception of the process, describing same as unambiguous and very transparent.
