Lokoja: The Kogi government has embarked on a significant initiative to rehabilitate nine livestock markets across the state’s three senatorial districts. The bid opening ceremony for this project took place on Friday at the Kogi State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (Kogi L-PRES) Project office in Lokoja. Project Coordinator, Mr. Abdulkabir Otaru, highlighted the initiative’s importance and reassured stakeholders of a transparent and fair process.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Otaru characterized the rehabilitation effort as a new beginning in Kogi’s livestock value chain and praised Governor Ahmed Ododo for his continuous support. He revealed that the World Bank had sanctioned the project, which involves rehabilitating one livestock market in each of Kogi’s nine federal constituencies. Otaru emphasized that all relevant stakeholders have been engaged to ensure a seamless bidding process and successful implementation of the project.
Otaru urged the winning contractor to adhere to global best practices and complete the work within the stipulated timeframe. He noted that Governor Ododo’s support for L-PRES has been crucial in enhancing farmers’ livelihoods and stimulating the state’s economy. The Project Coordinator explained that the rehabilitation of these markets would boost productivity and fortify the livestock value chain across Kogi.
Commissioner for Livestock Development, Dr. Olufemi Bolarin, asserted that the initiative would rejuvenate the livestock sector, which is vital to Kogi’s economy and food security. Represented by the Director of Livestock, Mr. Ali Peter, the commissioner emphasized the necessity for transparency and strict adherence to bidding guidelines.
Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Abdulsalam Hadi, applauded the governor for his commitment to transforming livestock development in Kogi. He expressed confidence that the project would achieve success and significantly contribute to the state’s economic growth. Kogi L-PRES Procurement Officer, Mr. Adeolu Oshadare, disclosed that five companies submitted bids ranging from N1.22 billion to N2.12 billion. The project was advertised on September 12th, with bids received by October 10th from qualified companies.
Oshadare mentioned that the bids include submissions from Nuelika Infinity Ltd. (N1.54 billion), Izyprecs Ltd. (N1.55 billion), Emmanuel-NIK and Gold Ltd. (N1.47 billion), RSA Global Ltd. (N1.22 billion), and Numora Integrated Ltd. (N2.12 billion). He added that the evaluation committee would review the bids within the next week before making the final selection.
Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply, Kogi Branch, Prof. Usman Omeiza, praised the transparent bidding process. Omeiza encouraged stakeholders to maintain transparency and accountability throughout the project’s execution.