Akwa Ibom state Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Dr Offiong Offor has that 11 contractors have participated in the contract bid for construction of 16.55km road in Okobo and Ini local government areas under the upgrading component of the Akwa Ibom State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project, (AKS-RAAMP) in the state
Offor who presided over the bid closing /opening ceremony recently at AKS-RAAMP office, described the exercise as a demonstration of due process, transparency and general standard practices operationalized by the project, as provided by the World Bank regulations.
“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 the same under strict adherence to specifications in the design,” Offor said, reiterating the Umo Eno administration’s commitment and determination towards developing the grassroots in order to enhance the life chances of resident of the State’s rural communities.
“This would help to reduce rural – urban drift and lessen the pressure on facilities in the urban centers in the long run,” he stressed.
The State Project Coordinator of RAAMP, Pastor Gideon Akpan described all the bidders as stakeholders in the project.
“Although it would not be possible for the nine companies to emerge winners, 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 said.
He, therefore, enjoined everyone to pay attention to little facts throughout the exercise and strengthen their knowledge of some technical details from procurement experts.
The Procurement Specialist of RAAMP, Mr. Etim Effiong explained that the 16.55-kilometer project is 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 said no late submission of bid was recorded but observed that one tender which had earlier been submitted by a company (name withheld) was withdrawn by the owners .
“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 in the bid process.
“We are satisfied with the bid process from inception . The process is unambiguous and very transparent,” he said
