Ekiti State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (EK-RAAMP) has opened 32 bids submitted by different construction firms for the construction of three roads totalling 35.36km in the State.
The roads are 15.10km Ido-Ipere-Iludun road (Lot 1); 4.53km Abe Cocoa-Ijarigbin road (Lot 2), and 15.73km Agbado-Ijisun-Ipole-Ise road (Lot 3).
Speaking in Ado Ekiti at the bid opening exercise, the State Project Coordinator, Hon. Sunday Adunmo said the three roads are critical to the food security agenda of the Biodun Oyebanji-led administration hence their prioritization.
Adunmo who was represented by the Director-General of the Rural Access Roads Agency, Engr Emmanuel Oluwafemi, assured the bidders of a level playing field; adding that the Project would evaluate all the 32 bids without favouritism.
He stressed the need for the successful bidders to deliver quality job as the Project would not accept shoddy jobs from any contractor.
Also speaking at the event, the Director-General of the State Roads Fund (SRF), Mrs Folu Ogunlayi urged the prospective winners of the bids to ensure that Ekiti people get value for government’s investments in the project.
She said Ekiti people are eager for roads that would stand the test of time.
For Ido-Ipere-Iludun road which is Lot 1, eight bids were purchased but 7 were submitted. For Abe Cocoa-Ijarigbin road (Lot 2),15 bids were purchased but 14 were submitted, while for Lot 3 which is Agbado-Ijisun-Ipole-Ise road,12 bids were purchased but 11 were submitted. These brought the total number of bids submitted to 32 bids.
At the end of the bid opening exercise, the representative of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Engr Samuel Ogundare commended RAAMP for the transparent bid opening exercise.
He added that this would boost the bidders’ confidence in the process.
Also, the Executive Director of CESFORD, a Non-Governmental Organisation, Mr Eyitayo Fabunmi said the process was fair as all the bidders who were present at the bid opening exercise had their bids confirmed before they were opened.
Some of the bidders who spoke at the end of the exercise said they were satisfied with the process which they admitted was transparent and fair.