The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) on Monday opened bids for 66 mega projects in accordance with the provisions of the Public Procurement Act.
Dr. Christian Oboh, the Managing Director of the commission, who opened the bids in Port Harcourt, said that the projects were lined up for implementation in the 2011 budget.
However, it was reported that the contracts included 33 road projects, 17 shore protection and erosion control projects, five electrification projects and one technical college in each of the nine states of the region.
Others projects are regional specialist children/orthopaedic/cardiovascular hospital and maternity home in each of the states.
The bids opening ceremony were witnessed by representatives of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and Civil Society Organisations.
Oboh said that successful bidders should be ready to execute the contracts within the approved time frame.
He said that “arithmetical correction” would be carried out to avoid mistakes in the calculation of items in the Bill of Engineering Measurement (BEME).
According to him, only qualified bidders will be chosen.
The NDDC boss advised members of the bid committee to be transparent and fast track the process to ensure early awards of the contracts.
“The committee should check for bidders with the most experience on similar contracts, time of completion and tender sums,’’ he said.
The nine states in the Niger Delta Region are Abia, Akwa-lbom, Bayelsa,Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo, and Rivers.?