OGONI CLEAN-UP : Over 40 Companies Indicate Interest For FG New Contract Bid in Ogoniland.

The Federal Government has started a new bid to enable for selection of contractors for provision of portable water in communities that experienced oil spillage.

The project which is a product of inventiveness of the UN Environment Program (UNEP) report on Ogoniland after it has advocated for provision of running water for communities where water had been polluted as a result of oil spillage.

The Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation project (HYREP) Dr. Marvin Dekil said HYREP under the Federal Ministry of Environment would coordinate the water projects in Eleme, Gokana, Khana, and Tai areas covering Ogoniland to ensure early completion.
He said

“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,” 

Speaking further he revealed that over 40 companies had submitted their expression of interest to participate in the bidding for the project and that the minister of Environment, Dr Mohammed Abubakar and HYPREP had agreed to spread the project to communities that are not directly impacted by oil spillage.

“In addition, the water that we are going to provide in Ogoni communities will meet the United Nations and World Health Organisation standards.
“Ogali, Kpean, Nsisioken, Korokoro, K-Dere and B-Dere communities in Ogoni are the communities that UNEP identified for the water projects.
“So, these communities will get the six lots in the first phase of the water project, while others will benefit from subsequent phases as we progress.
“At the end, we will have a central borehole from which water will be reticulated to the impacted communities and many others our budget can carry,” he added.

Dikel assured members of the public that the exercise will follow strictly all guidelines on Covid-19 to ensure the safety of participants and also in adherence to the provisions of the procurement act with the collaboration of Rivers state Ministry of Water Resources.