Nasarawa State Govt Begins Process To Plant 5 Million Trees, Assures Bidders Fairness In Awarding Contract.

By Michael Umudjon

Nasarawa State government has began the process of planting five Million Trees across the state.

Commissioner of Environment and Natural Resources Dr Kwanta Yakuba who also doubles as the steering chairman of the committee made this known at Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscape (ACReSAL) head office in Karu, Karu LGA of Nasarawa State, on Thursday.

The aim of ACReSAL, a World Bank assisted project is aimed at recovering degraded land due to man’s activities, such as mining, Tree cutting among others.

Dr Kwanta who was represented by ACReSAL Project Coordinator Mr Napoleon Gyobe while declaring open the bid process, assured the eight (8) bidders fairness in picking the winners, he echoed that the state is blessed with Thirty-Six (36) gazetted forest Reserves which has been greatly affected due to human activities, thereby stating that the bid process is to Rehabilitate, and establish six (6) nurseries  in the three Geo-Political Zones of Lafia, Akwanga and Keffi, which will in turn restore Fifty Thousand ( 50,000) Hectres of degraded land during the six (6) years life span of ACReSAL.

_Today’s event is to open the bid for rehabilitation and establishment of six nurseries in the three Geo-Political Zones of Lafia, Akwanga and Keffi in Nasarawa State._
_Nasarawa State is blessed with Thirty-Six gazetted forest Reserve but these have been depleted over time due to human activities that have resulted in adverse climate change._
_The government of Nasarawa State under the able leadership of His excellency, Engr Abdullahi Sule, Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, he is committed to reversing this trend by developing a sustainable environment._” Dr Kwanta said

On his part, Project ACReSAL Coordinator Mr Napoleon Gyobe said the main aim of the bid is to make sure that Nasarawa State is a climate resilient state and tackling other climate challenges through raising of tree nurseries within the state three zones and reviving of some reserves such as;
1.Sheregia forest Reserve in Wamba
2.Atabla Forest Reserve in Obi LGA
3. Ohina Forest Reserve in Doma; and Other forest Reserves that requires attention.

Mr Napoleon further added that once the evaluation committee is done, the winner of the bid would be announced.

_Nasarawa State has  pledged to restore about 50,000 hectares as it’s national determine contribution for the ACReSAL project , the aim is to make sure that  Nasarawa is a climate resilient state and also solve so many climatic changes_ .

” _This is just the first component of the project where we intend to restore degraded land in the state and for you to achieve that, you need to raise Nursery sights._ “

Rotimi Ogunride and Suleiman Dikwa who spoke on behalf of other bidders appreciated the state government, however they called for more Trees to be planted

The bidding process had representatives from Nasarawa State Bureau of public procurement, Ministry of Agriculture and ACReSAL staffers.

The eight companies who submitted their bids are;
1. Mutual Infrastructure Ltd
2. Kreao Engr Nig. Ltd
3.MacGeorge Consulting LTD
4.Yura Ally Intl. Ltd
5.Neix Track Marchant Link Ltd.
6.Construdev Ltd
7.Green Sahara Farm Ltd
8. Crown Ocean LTD