By Muhammad B. Muhammad, Yola
No fewer than 187 companies on Tuesday bid for the construction of durable shelter solutions comprising 108 housing units intended to provide sustainable, dignified, and long-term accommodation for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
The bidding exercise also covered upgrade works at the Damare IDP Camp in Girei Local Government Area, although some of the advertised lots recorded no bid submissions.
Notable companies that indicated interest in the process included Stable General Merchant, Hamziyya Standard Services Limited, Modibbo Dadani Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited, and Vazhili Jabada Investment Limited, among others.
The bid opening exercise, held at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Reintegration and Humanitarian Services (RRRHS) at Malkohi in Yola, brought together contractors, government officials, and independent observers.
In his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Emos Enoch Piribu, said the exercise underscored the government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and due process in public procurement.
He explained that the bid opening stage was purely procedural and that no bid would be accepted or rejected at that point, as all submissions would undergo detailed technical and financial evaluation.
Mr. Piribu further revealed that the project marked the first pilot phase of the state’s Homegrown Durable Solutions Initiative, aimed at moving beyond short-term humanitarian interventions.
According to him, the housing project is designed to support safe return, local integration, and resilience for displaced families in Madagali, while restoring their dignity and sense of stability.
Speaking as one of the observers, Engr. Umar Abubakar Umar, Secretary of the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), Adamawa State Branch, commended the ministry for conducting a transparent process.
He advised that strict adherence to technical specifications and professional standards must be ensured to guarantee value for money, adding that strong monitoring and evaluation mechanisms would be critical to the success of the project.
Also commenting, Yakubu Iliya, representing the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria (CIPSMN), Adamawa State Chapter, praised the state government for prioritizing durable solutions for conflict-affected persons.
He emphasized that procurement processes must always be guided by equity, competition, value for money, and fitness for purpose, while advising the ministry to improve time management during future bid openings to avoid procedural concerns.
On his part, the representative of Mr. Marcus Joseph, for the Adamawa State Bureau of Public Procurement, acknowledged the complexity of handling a project spread across 54 lots and commended the ministry’s efforts.
He explained that where some lots recorded no response, the procurement law allows for selective tendering through requests for quotations to multiple companies, advising that future invitations be extended to a wider pool of bidders to minimize non-response.
In an interview, the Head of Procurement at the Ministry of RRR and Humanitarian Services, Abdurrasheed Ibrahim Bello, disclosed that 187 responses were received across the 54 advertised lots.
He explained that the Madagali pilot project involves the construction of two-bedroom semi-detached housing units, while the Damare IDP Camp upgrade is intended to relocate displaced persons from public facilities such as schools to a more organized and permanent settlement.
Sahel Reporters News
