The Taraba State Government has officially commenced the bid opening process for the provision of goods and services for a Livestock Service Centre in Sunkani, Ardo-Kola Local Government Area.
The exercise, which took place on Friday in Jalingo, is part of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), a collaborative initiative between the state government and the World Bank.
Speaking at the event, the State Project Coordinator of L-PRES, Mr. Hananiah Albert, represented by the project’s Communication Officer, Mr. Artimas Ezra, described the bid opening as a major milestone in the project’s implementation.
“The bids cover the supply of selected goods and services for the establishment of the Livestock Service Centre, including the installation of internal roads, drainage systems, electricity, perimeter fencing, and administrative buildings,” he explained.
Mr. Albert said the project aims to strengthen livestock service delivery, improve productivity, and enhance the resilience of livestock value chains across the state. He noted that the Sunkani Livestock Service Centre would serve as a critical hub for modern livestock services and market-oriented production.
He also emphasized that the bid opening reflects L-PRES’ commitment to transparency, accountability, and strict compliance with World Bank and national procurement guidelines. “The exercise will be conducted fairly and professionally to ensure value for money and quality outcomes,” Mr. Albert assured.
Commending firms that expressed interest, he expressed optimism that successful partnerships would significantly contribute to the development of Taraba State’s livestock sector.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Professor Nicholas Oliver Namessan, who spoke through the ministry’s director of livestock services, Damen Musa, praised the L-PRES team for maintaining transparency throughout the procurement process.
The bid opening ceremony, as observed by our reporter, was attended by representatives of the World Bank, state government officials, members of the procurement committee, and independent bidding observers.