By Stephen Adeleye.
The Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) in Kogi State, has sealed a multi million naira contract deal with Loraj Consortium, on Engineering Design of five gully erosion Sites and Supervision of eight Sites across the state.
Barr. Ladi Ahmed Jato, the Project Coordinator, Kogi NEWMAP, at the signing of the contract with a Consultant, LORAJ CONSORTIUM in Lokoja, said the event was an indication of Gov. Yahaya Bello’s commitment and readiness to tackle ecological challenges in the State.
She named the five gully erosion sites for the engineering design as: Township Erosion site in Ankpa, Ogane-Aji in Dekina, Ugwolawo in Ofu, Etahi in Okene, Omigbo River Channelization in Kabba/Bunu LGAs.
While the eight sites for supervision are: Adum Road in Olamaboro, Agassa in Okene, Ozuri in Adavi, Ankpa, Ogane Aji, Ugwolawo, Etahi and Omigbo River Channelization sites.
She said that the Projects were being funded by the Kogi State Government in collaboration with the World Bank through counterpart fund which had already been paid by the governor.
The cost for the designs is N217, 765, 595, while that of supervisions is N160, 280, 579, making a total sum of N378, 470, 174 for the two contracts.
The coordinator said that the whole processes which commenced with ‘No Objection’ of the World Bank received on Dec. 9, 2016, the time of signing the contract, was rigorous, highly competitive and transparent.
”After a competitive and transparent evaluation, LORAJ CONSORTIUM emerged as the firm with the most responsive BID out of a total of 40 Expression of Interests (Eols) received.
”After all processes of evaluation were concluded, reports were sent to the World Bank for its review, following which a ‘No Objection’ was issued.
”Indeed, this is a major milestone in Project delivery because, without a Design in place, there will be neither Civil Works nor implementation,”
”Restoration has come to Kogi State, and gratitude to his excellency the environmental friendly governor for providing the enabling environment and the counterpart fund for us to get to this stage,” she said.
She urged them not to disappoint the State in the execution of the assignment and assured that payment, at any stage of the Assignment would not be a problem.
The Chairman, Kogi NEWMAP State Steering Committee, Mr Sanusi Yahaya, who doubles as the State Commissioner for Ministry of Environment & Natural Resources, urged the consultant to complete the designs within the agreed period of one year.
According to Yahaya, the signing is a milestone in Kogi NEWMAP looking at the ecological terrain particularly the erosion menace associated with Kogi state due to the nature of our soil.
”The government of Gov. Yahaya Bello, since assumption of office has done its part by paying the state counterpart fund for this project because of the serious of the environmental issues.
”As we speak quite a number of communities are about to lose their houses while some had already lost theirs.
”We believe the consultant knows our pains and the urgency of this matter, so, we urge them to be on the same page with us and keep to the timeline,” Yahaya said.
On his part, Mr Leo Anuforo, the Managing Director/CEO of Loraj Consortium, promised to work according to the signed agreement for the designs and supervisions, saying, ”we will deliver, we will not disappoint Kogi State.
”There are two components: design and supervision, already we have had three designs on ground for Agasa in Okene, Adumu in Olamaboro and Ozuri in Adavi.
”So as soon as the contractor is boarded using the World Bank procurement process, work will commence on those sites in earnest.
”As for the design, we are starting the raking work tomorrow, because the people are threatened by the menace of gully erosions and other environmental related issues,” Anuforo said.
(NAN)
