NIGER STATE ACReSAL OPENS BIDS FOR MOKWA STORM WATER DRAINAGE PROJECT

The Niger State Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project has commenced the opening of bids for the construction of storm water drainage structures at the Mokwa Gully Erosion Site, marking another major milestone in the State Government’s commitment to tackling environmental degradation and strengthening climate resilience.

The bid opening ceremony, held at Gudel Hotel, Minna, was supervised by the Chairman of the ACReSAL State Steering Committee and Honourable Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Abubakar Musa.

Addressing stakeholders, the Commissioner described the proposed construction of the storm water drainage structures as a strategic intervention designed to mitigate the devastating effects of gully erosion, protect lives and property, and preserve critical public infrastructure in Mokwa and surrounding communities.

He reaffirmed the determination of the Farmer Governor, Rt. Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago, to ensure that the project is implemented in strict compliance with due process, transparency, accountability and value for money.

“As we conclude today’s bid opening exercise, I sincerely appreciate all participants for their professionalism, cooperation and commitment to ensuring a transparent and credible procurement process,” the Commissioner said.

Hon. Abubakar Musa assured all bidding firms that the evaluation of submissions would be conducted fairly, objectively and strictly in accordance with established procurement guidelines, urging all stakeholders to continue supporting the successful delivery of the project.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Technical Committee and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Abubakar Sadeek Musa, welcomed participants and stressed the importance of transparency, fairness and professionalism throughout the procurement process.

Providing an overview of the procurement exercise, the State Project Coordinator, Malam Raji Shehu Adam, explained that the project had undergone rigorous preparatory stages, including environmental and engineering assessments carried out by various consulting firms, which accounted for the time taken before the commencement of the procurement process.

He disclosed that before the devastating flood disaster of 29th May, 2026, the intervention was designed to address approximately 5.2 kilometres of gully erosion. However, following the disaster, the scope of work was comprehensively reviewed to address the root causes of the erosion, leading to an expansion of the project corridor to approximately 17 kilometres.

Malam Raji further revealed that 18 companies initially expressed interest in the project, while 15 firms successfully submitted their bidding documents before the deadline of 12:00 noon on Wednesday, 15th July, 2026.

He reiterated the unwavering commitment of Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago to ensuring the successful execution of the project, noting that the Niger State ACReSAL Project has maintained an impressive record of conducting transparent procurement processes without litigation or procurement-related disputes, expressing confidence that the current exercise would equally be concluded successfully.

In their goodwill messages, representatives of the Ministries of Land and Survey, Dr. Abdul Hussaini, Rural and Community Development and Works and Infrastructural Development, the Executive Chairman of Mokwa Local Government Council, Hon. Jibrin Abdullahi Muregi, the Ndalele of Mokwa, Alhaji Mohammed Shaba Aliyu, and other stakeholders commended the transparent conduct of the exercise and expressed optimism that the project would provide a lasting solution to the persistent gully erosion challenges confronting Mokwa.

Representatives of the participating construction firms also applauded the openness, fairness and professionalism displayed throughout the bid opening process, describing it as a testament to the State Government’s commitment to transparency and good governance.

The proposed storm water drainage project forms a critical component of the Niger State ACReSAL intervention aimed at restoring degraded landscapes, enhancing climate resilience, protecting communities from environmental hazards and promoting sustainable development across the state.