A fresh bid to select contractors to provide portable water in oil spill impacted Ogoni communities in Nigeria’s Rivers state has been opened.
Dr Marvin Dekil, the Project Coordinator, Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) said at the opening of the bid in Port Harcourt that the Project was initiative of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Report on Ogoniland.
UNEP in 2011 recommended the provision of running water for Ogoni communities whose underground water got polluted by decades-long oil spills.
Dekil said that HYPREP, under the Federal Ministry of Environment would coordinate the water projects in Eleme, Gokana, Khana and Tai areas covering Ogoniland to ensure early completion.
“So, today we are opening bids for six lots to six competent companies to provide portable water to various locations in the four local government areas of Ogoniland.
“We are optimistic that we will secure contractors that will immediately be mobilised to sites within the next three to five weeks.
“The water project will be done simultaneously with remediation works currently ongoing in 57 sites spread across the areas,” he said.
Dekil said that no fewer than 40 companies had submitted their expression of interest to participate in the bidding for the project.
The project coordinator assured that the bidding process would be done in line with guidelines of the procurement act with collaboration from Rivers State Ministry of Water Resources.
According to him, the exercise will adhere strictly to protocols on COVID-19 to safeguard participants.
