The Nigerian Army on Thursday in Abuja opened bids for tender for capital projects valued at N250 million.
The projects include drilling of boreholes in some barracks, supply of tyres for operational vehicles and purchase of? vehicles.
Speaking at the ceremony at the Army Headquarters, Brig.-Gen. Dike NNna, Army Director of Logistics and Planning, said the bids were opened in compliance with the Public Procurement Act.
NNna said the Act stipulates that there should be fairness, transparency and open competitiveness in the award of contracts.
He said that with the open process, it would? be seen that there was no fraud or corruption in the contract award.
“More than that, a quarter of the people that bid are present and this shows that the army had notified people of the projects,'' he said.
Mr??Ogundele Kingsley, Procurement Officer, Ministry of Defence, said the exercise was satisfactory as due process was followed as stipulated by the PPA.
“I am satisfied with how the army had conducted the exercise by informing and assembling the contractors,'' he said.
Mr Peter Ozagu, an Independent Observer, also said that he was satisfied with the conduct of the exercise as the large number of contractors in attendance showed that the army had informed them.
Some of the contractors who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) also expressed satisfaction with the exercise.
Mr Kayode Ayeni, Rubabell Nigeria Ltd., said the exercise had followed the “tradition of the military which is integrity, openness and accountability''.
Mr Eze Eleyton, Pillar Plus Nigeria Ltd, commended the transparent process and hoped that it would be sustained till the end.?(NAN)