BY IDAHOSA MUSA
As part of efforts to enhance livestock infrastructure in Edo State, the State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (Edo LPRES) has said that it received 15 bids for the rehabilitation of slaughter slabs, live bird markets, and additional farmer field schools across the state.
Edo LPRES is a World Bank-assisted initiative, jointly supported by the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Edo State Government.
It is aimed at strengthening and modernising the state’s livestock sector.
Speaking during the official bidding ceremony held in Benin, the State Project Coordinator, Mrs Betsy Ikpikhumi, represented by the project’s Gender Officer, Mr John McDonald reaffirmed that the process aligns with the project’s broader development objectives.
She explained that the call for bids was advertised in national newspapers to ensure transparency and wide participation.
“The scope of these bids includes the rehabilitation of slaughter slabs, live bird markets, and the establishment of additional farmer field schools,” Ikpikhumi stated.
“Our goal is to improve productivity, enhance commercialisation, and build resilience within the livestock value chain in Edo State,” she added.
She noted that the project’s focus areas include poultry, sheep, goats, and piggery.
All components ranging from training to infrastructure and input support must align with the initiative’s wider development agenda.
Ikpikhumi further explained that the projects were identified through stakeholder consultations and needs assessments and were subsequently approved by the Federal Government, the Edo State Government, and the World Bank.
“Following these approvals, advertisements were placed in the Vanguard Newspaper, inviting qualified contractors to submit bids,” she said.
The bid opening was conducted publicly, with company representatives present to observe and verify the transparency of the process.
She revealed that out of 22 companies that initially expressed interest, 15 successfully submitted complete bids.
These submissions will now be evaluated by a committee to select the most qualified contractors for project execution.
Mr Abdulbasit Isah, representing RSA Global Investment, commended the bidding process, describing it as “fair, open, and transparent.”
Companies represented at the event included RSA Global Investment, Baube Solution Limited, Airos Synergy Limited, Jezuwa Nigeria Limited, and Earth Geo Engineering Limited.
Other participating firms included Attabaaon Global Limited, Crane and Castle Limited, Sea-Hawk Solution & Logistics Limited, and Aza-One Multi services Enterprise Limited, among others
