Kogi State Ministry of Water Resources has opened bids for the selection of consultants to undertake new water projects as part of efforts to revitalize water supply infrastructure in the state.
The bid-opening ceremony, held in Lokoja brought together officials from relevant government agencies, civil society organisations, and representatives of consulting firms participating in the process.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Water Resources, Engr. Yahaya Farouk, said the exercise reflects the transparency and accountability policy of the present administration.
According to him, the ministry adopted a merit-based and competitive process to ensure the emergence of competent consultants capable of delivering quality results.
“With so much work expected in the ministry in the coming days, this process is aimed at selecting, through a merit and competitive-based approach, competent consultants for the projects,” Farouk said.
He commended the state government for prioritising water supply under its thematic agenda and expressed confidence that the objectives of the bid process would be achieved.
Earlier, the Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Mr. Ehimoni Sunday, represented by the Director of Management Information System, described the exercise as a clear demonstration of the state government’s commitment to transparency and fairness in public procurement.
He assured participants that the selection process is conducted with utmost transparency, noting that the bid opening adopted virtual and e-procurement methods strictly based on merit.
Sunday also urged consultant that would eventually emerge to adhere strictly to the terms of reference and specifications in order to ensure value for money.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Tenders Board and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water Resources, Alhassan Omakoji, assured stakeholders of a competitive process and strong inter-agency collaboration to guarantee value for public funds.
Meanwhile, the leadership of civil society organisations in the state praised the administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for prioritising transparency and accountability.
Speaking on behalf of the Kogi State Network for Civil Society (KONGONET), its State Chairman, Comrade Hamza Aliyu, applauded the government for taking the bid opening seriously, noting that the funds involved are public resources.
He expressed satisfaction with the due process demonstrated by the ministry and urged that such standards be sustained across all levels of government.
Aliyu also pledged KONGONET’s readiness to monitor the process leading to the emergence of the consultant to ensure that the state benefits from a reputable firm.
Similarly, a member of KONGONET, Muraina Idris, commended the mechanism put in place by the ministry, describing the process as one that reflects a high level of due process.
