By Dele Ogbodo
The Federal Government through the Ministry of Works and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) have concluded collaboration to end the barriers that have hindered smooth delivery of federal road projects in the past.
Speaking in a strategic meeting to end the lingering bureaucracies and as part of efforts to end delays in project delays, execution and seamless implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda of Federal Government on road sector development, the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, and the DG, BPP, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun are concluding discussion on new paradigm of seamless bureaucracies in public procurement processes for efficient and timely project delivery.
In a meeting held at the Ministry in Mabushi, Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister stated that for the sector to achieve greater prospects in innovation, efficiency, and economy in the road infrastructure revolution agenda of the present administration and to best respond to the citizens’ yearning for road sector intervention, there must be a deliberate effort to remove all bureaucratic constraints to project evaluation by the bureau of public procurement.
He noted the core mandates of the Bureau, which among others are to foster accountability, consistency in pricing, effectiveness in contract execution, and value for money, and urged them to see delay as one of the greatest inhibitors of the objectives of the establishment of the bureau.
He said, “We seek closer cooperation and collaboration to enable the ministry to fast-track delivery of the road infrastructure projects inherited and those initiated by the renewed hope administration.
“When we came on board, we insisted on best practices, and we introduced innovations to ensure we give Nigerians enduring road infrastructure that is fit for purpose.
“We therefore need a collaborative resolve to end unnecessary delays in the procurement processes.” he pointed out that different procurement methods, including restrictive, selective, and competitive bidding measures, are geared towards achieving value for money and effective service delivery to Nigerians.”
In a remark, the DG commended the Minister for the purposeful initiatives of the Ministry under his watch and assured him of enhanced synergies so that the noble objectives of the renewed hope administration of the President Tinubu would be achieved.
He said, “The interesting thing about you is that you don’t fail in your duty, which i have observed. you start, you end with something that is unique about you, and you’re passionate about what you want to do.
“We are glad when you extended the invitation for us to come here. we know you see BPP as a worthy partner towards ensuring that Mr. president’s objectives in respect of road infrastructure are achieved timely, transparently, and well-accounted.”
“We are here to hear your challenges, and for us to also hear our own challenges and reach an understanding of how to make sure we work together to achieve the same goal for logical completion.”
He added that from his experience over the years, works is an arm of government that Nigerians see every day, adding that if there is the agency or parastatal or Ministry that if things fail, then all Nigerians will shout against Mr. President, it is the ministry of Works.
He added: “So we place serious premium on closely working with you to ensure we deliver on the mandates in a way that value for money is achieved, in a way that sustainability of what we have on ground is improved upon and even the quality of the roads that we deliver. i think our partnership with you, your excellency, is that the quality of the roads that we see must return back to the days when we constructed a road that 25 years later is still intact.”
The meeting was attended by directors of key departments of both the Ministry and the Bureau, including Engr. Bede Obioha, Director highways bridge and design, Engr. Musa Saidu, Acting Director highways road design and Engr. Clement Ogbuagu, Director highways construction and rehabilitation federal ministry of works, as well as Nasir Bellow, Isaiah Yesufu and Mrs. Janet Mcdickson, Director IN charge of Public Affairs, BPP.
