Niger State Government to complete Three Arm Zone with additional 100 housing Units.
Arrangements have been concluded by the Niger State Government for the completion of the Three Arms zone housing estate with the provision of infrastructure facilities in Minna.
This was disclosed at the closure of submission of pre-qualifications documents by interested companies where bids were opened to mark the beginning of the process of selection of competent contractors.
The Permanent Secretary Ministry of lands and Housing,Dr Abdul Hussaini while speaking at the opening of the bids said the occasion was in fulfillment of the promise made by the Governor, Rt. Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago, during his inaugural speech, of his desire to complete all viable peoples-oriented projects of the previous administrations.
“the Governor said he would like to see the completion of Three Arms Zone project to create harmonious neighborhood for a functional and efficient service delivery and within the first two weeks”,he then gave orders for the advertisement for the re- development of the Three Arms Zone, in two National Dailies, so that eligible and competent contractors throughout the country will participate and the best be engaged for the development.
He further states that, “what we are withnessing today is an extension of what happened some weeks ago, when the bid was opened”.
He disclosed that due to low response and in compliance with procurement guidelines, it was agreed that the bid period should be extended by another two weeks. Today, 17th of July, happens to be the closing date of extended period and marks the bid opening process. From the count of all the submitted bids, we now have 13 number of contractors who would be evaluated by the evaluation committee so as to shortlist for consideration.
He further disclosed that although residential houses were part of the development at the three arms zone, another priority component of the Three Arms Zone Development is construction of the High Court complex for the judicial arm, adding that road infrastructure and the completion of the existing housing project.
Also speaking, Permanent Secretary, Public Procurement Board, Alhaji Shehu Jibrin, explained that the Board provided the technical support for the bid process to ensure transparency, stressing that it was a two-stage bidding process; pre-qualification and financial bidding.
The documents, after evaluation committee’s report, would shortlist at least six companies to be issue financial bid which would be evaluated again for a winning firm to emerge.
The General Manager, Niger State Housing Corporation, ESV Ahmed Abdullahi, said that the project will be a new smart three arms zone development to be delivered to the Highest Arms of Government of the state.
He said, the government was interested in seeing the completion of the existing housing units and to build additional houses, adding that not less than 100 housing units would be expected including the existing ones, to provide accommodation for all the three arms of government in the state.
The opening of bid was attended by all the representatives of the 13 firms that submitted their bids and state government officials from the supervising Ministry and Housing Corporation.
