By Suleiman Yakubu

About six construction firms have submitted their financial bids for the completion of the Three Arms Zone to the Niger State Government.
Speaking during the closing of financial bids, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Renewal, TPL. Habiba Ahmed, said submission of financial bids was the last process towards award of contact for the completion of the Three Arms Zone project.
She explained that "this is a process that began about two weeks ago, and we have come to the stage where the financial bids have been opened because initially, there was a pre-qualification bid; hopefully, after analysis, the committee will determine who has the best deal that the state can work with.
"A committee would be set up by the ministry in conjunction with the Procurement Board to assess the submissions and work out the best firm to carry out this assignment for the state government, based on their submissions, within the shortest time possible because we want to hit the ground running", she added.
On his part, the Permanent Secretary of the Niger State Public Procurement Board, Alhaji Shehu Jibrin, said the opening of the financial bids was the last stage where, after evaluation, the winning contractor would emerge, adding that the ministry would evaluate both the technical and financial aspects.
"What I said is that the lowest responsible bid does not only include the price but also the technical because they have to do the needful to evaluate the technical; if it's in line with requirements, then they should look at the price; if it's the lowest, considering the technical, then it should be recommended for the award", he said.
The General Manager, Niger State Housing Corporation, ESV Ahmed Abdullahi, said the role of the corporation was to ensure that the project was implemented in accordance with the specifications on the bill of quantities as bid by the prospective contractors.
It would be recalled that prior to the closing of pre-qualification bids a few weeks ago, for the completion of housing units, about 13 firms submitted their bids,out of which six were selected to submit their financial bids.

By Suleiman Yakubu

Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has reaffirmed his administration's commitment to a more collaborative effort with security agencies to effectively tackle the security challenges bedevilling the state.
Governor Bago stated this when he received the Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, at the Niger State Lodge, Abuja.
He said he was determined to reach out to all security outfits to ensure the security of lives and property. The governor appreciated the strides made by the NSCDC in the state and assured the commandant that the government would continue to provide an enabling environment for them to operate.
The Commandant General, NSCDC, Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, said he was at the State Government Lodge to appreciate the efforts of the governor in supporting the command and restate their continued zeal in working with other security agencies in the fight against banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, and other crimes.
Dr. Abubakar Audi used the forum to sympathise with the governor over attacks on some villages that caused the loss of lives and properties of villagers and the recent tragic incident that claimed the lives of some security operatives in the state.