The Minister of Works, Engr. Nweze Umahi has approached the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) management on the need for seamless bureaucracies in public procurement processes for efficient and timely project delivery.
Special Adviser (Media) to the Minister of Works, Orji Uchenna disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.
The Minister stated that, for the works sector to achieve greater prospects in innovation and efficiency, 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 BPP to include fostering accountability, consistency in pricing, effectiveness, contract execution and therefore urged them to see delay as one of the greatest inhibitors of the objectives of the establishment of the Bureau.
“We seek closer cooperation and collaboration to enable the Ministry to fastrack 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”, Umahi said.
He pointed out that different procurement methods, including restrictive, selective, and competitive bidding measures, were geared towards achieving value for money and effective service delivery to Nigerians.
On his part, the Director-General of BPP, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun commended the Minister for the purposeful initiatives of the Federal Ministry of Works under his watch and assured him of enhanced synergies with the Ministry so that the noble objectives of the Renewed Hope administration of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the works sector 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.
The meeting was attended by directors of key departments of both the Ministry and the Bureau, including Engr. Bede U. 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 M. Bellow, Isaiah G. Yesufu, Janet McDickson, Directors of the Bureau of Public Procurement.
