News
183 Firms Pre-Qualify For Ogoni Clean-Up
One hundred and eighty-three companies have been pre-qualified by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) out of over 400 of them which submitted pre-qualification documents for the remediation of oil impacted sites in Ogoniland in Rivers State.
The Minister of State for Environment, Alhaji Ibrahim Usman Jibril, who made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen on the sidelines of a pre-contract award meeting with the companies in Port Harcourt last Tuesday said the 183 companies were currently at the stage of getting clarifications on the location sites they had visited as contained in their bid documents.
According to him, the companies have been pre-qualified and bid documents issued to them and in line with the Procurement Act, they are provided a platform where they can clarify issues with regards to sites visited.
Jibril said the companies at the meeting, were expected to respond or clarify issues which were not quite clear to them in the bid documents they submitted, hinting that it was against this backdrop that officials of the federal Ministry of Environment drawn from the Procurement, Technical and Legal Departments, including the Director of Operations as well as project management consultants were on ground to provide answers to the questions raised by the companies.
The Minister, who was represented by his Senior Technical Assistant, Dr. Ishayaku Mohammed said the submission of technical and financial bids by the companies which would hold on September 24,2018 would be the next step to ascertain whether or not the firms have both the technical and financial competence and expertise to handle the remediation project.
He disclosed that the technical evaluation of the companies would last for one week before the opening of the financial bid which would also last for another one week.
“The process like I mentioned are two. One, there will be a technical evaluation. We will ensure they submit technical bid. The technical bid will enable the technical team constituted to determine whether or not the companies have the technical competence and expertise to be able to engage in the remediation project. It is only when you have termed a company to be technically qualified that you now open the financial bid to see if it is responsive financially”, he said, pointing out that it is that process that would give the companies the stamp of approval to undertake the clean-up exercise in the long run.
The Minister further indicated that HYPREP would strictly adhere to the timelines of the remediation project, hinting that by the end of October this year, the remediation of impacted sites proper would commence.
He allayed fear that funding of the project would constitute a problem, confirming that $177 million earmarked for the clean-up exercise was already in the account of the Ogoni Trust Fund.
It would be recalled that HYPREP’s technical team had last week taken the pre-qualified companies to the impacted sites in Eleme Local Government Area and other locations in Ogoniland to delineate the areas.
Donatus Ebi
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
-
News1 day ago
Obuah’s Victory Excites Former Lawmaker as APC Primaries Conclude in Rivers West
-
Politics3 days agoAPC PRIMARIES: FUBARA’S WITHDRAWAL, HISTORIC SACRIFICE FOR NATIONAL STABILITY ……. GROUP
-
News4 days agoCourt Sentences Seven To Death Over Murder Of Cleric In Rivers
-
News1 day ago
105 Nigerians Killed In S/Africa In Seven Years
-
Sports3 days agoPH Arsenal Community Set For Streets Procession, Saturday
-
Politics3 days agoIPAC Flays INEC Over Election Guidelines Judgement
-
Politics3 days agoNDC To Adopt Electronic Voting For Future Primaries
-
Niger Delta1 day agoRoyal Father Endorses PH Arsenal Community, Pledges To Support