NAN-H-21
Denial
By Chidinma Agu
Lagos, May 23, 2017 (NAN) The Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) on Tuesday denied an allegation that the processes of selecting contractors to rehabilitate 48 waterworks were not transparent.
Mr Muminu Badmus, Managing Director, LWC, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the selection was in line with the Lagos State Public Procurement Law, 2011.
“Lagosians will know that the assertion by the Environmental Right Actions/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) that there is no transparency in the selection of companies to rehabilitate the waterworks is not correct.
“The selection processes were duly supervised by the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency, assigned with the responsibility of ensuring probity, accountability and transparency in public procurement in the state.
“The Expression of Interest as Contractors/Consultants/Suppliers to LWC was advertised on Jan. 19, 2017, in the Punch, Nation and Guardian newspapers.
“The prospective firms expressed their interests through submission of proposals.
“Standard evaluation process was carried out, in accordance with the Lagos State Procurement Agency on category and class basis,’’ he said.
Badmus said that the firms were consequently shortlisted into LWC contractors, consultants and suppliers’ database, after which they were arranged in lots of 10, representing the existing 10 Regional Business Districts of LWC.
According to him, the corporation prepared standard prominent documents for the contract, and received approval from the Lagos State Procurement Agency.
Badmus said that the agency approved standard procurement document issued to 93 firms, shortlisted from the database, which submitted their bids within 14 days, according to the provisions of the procurement Law.
According to him, documentary evidence of all the procurement processes and approvals are kept for record purposes.
The LWC chief said that the selected firms were reputable and had proven records of accomplishment and technical proficiency.
Badmus said that the state government was committed to providing water to Lagos residents.
He said that the corporation would not compromise the interest of Lagos residents in its drive to expand water facilities that would guarantee sufficient and uninterrupted water supply. (NAN)
ACA/FLP/IGO
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(Edited by Folorunso Poroye/Ijeoma Popoola)