The ongoing construction plans for the new 25,000-capacity stadium in Yenagoa, Bayelsa, is creating uproar in sports circles in the state with most informed stakeholders and sports enthusiasts insisting that the bidding process lacks transparency.
This is coming even as more average Bayelsans have expressed mixed reaction over the construction of the stadium by the Government of Bayelsa State, questioning the priority value of the project and business plan.
Following what they described as “untransparent dealings” behind the bidding process of the construction of the Stadium, some stakeholders and sports enthusiasts in the state have called on the State Government to investigate the ongoing bidding process, claiming the process is secretive and hasn’t followed due process.
Last week, the Bayelsa State Commissioner for sports Hon. Daniel Igali, supervised the excavator clear out at the site for the proposed 25,000 seater sports facility that will span approximately forty hectares of land. The sports Commissioner while addressing the press, revealed that five companies have already submitted bids for the stadium project and the winner will be announced this week.
However, sports stakeholders in the state have frowned at the development and have sought to know when the bidding for the facility was advertised in line with standard practice, who was involved and how transparent the process was.
Ebizimor Numa, a sport stakeholder raising alarm over the development, expressed that the secret approach in the bidding is making stakeholders worried and thinking otherwise.
“Everything is shrouded in secrecy and it shouldn’t be. There are procedures in handling bidding processes. The Commissioner revealed that five companies have already submitted bids, meaning, the process of bidding commenced some time ago.
“So we want to ask the ministry of sports when the advert to that effect was made public and the news or publicity outlets used in the Information dissemination. We demand transparency as it will save the state a bad outcome,” He said.
Also reacting to the development as explained by the sports Commissioner, A stakeholder, who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed that stakeholders are happy with the Government decision to build a stadium in the state to help develop sports and provide a bigger facility for athletes and sports fans. He however warned that keeping important procedures like contract bidding away from the public will breed mistrust especially among stakeholders.
“The stadium project is a laudable idea but it is sad that the contract bidding process which is the most important requirement is poorly handled. We hear that companies have already submitted bids and we as stakeholders are not aware. That means the process is shrouded in some mystery. When was the process announced? when did it start?” Starting a hugh project in this manner is totally bad. We call for a reversal of the decision and for transparency to play,” he said
As more stakeholders raise eyebrows over the contract bidding process of the stadium project, it is expedient to state that indeed the process lacked transparency as the public is not aware of the bidding criteria, evaluation process, and more.
The Commissioner for sports as a seasoned sports man with international repute expectedly should champion due process in its best form. He should understand that operating a bidding procedure in the dark is clear contradiction to procurement standards.
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The Governor in his address on ongoing projects and newly initiated ones emphasized the need for transparency and accountability. Hence, all arranged processes regarding the contract bidding be dropped and a transparent and fair process devoid of any no-bid plans be carried out.
