By Amin Kef Sesay
Twenty bidding companies were conveyed by the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) on Thursday 20th August, 2020 on a visit at the proposed construction site for the Northwest Regional office in Port Loko. The move was in compliance with procurement regulations in the hiring of a Firm to construct the Office.
Speaking at the occasion, Peter Just Kenah, General Manager in charge of Administration and Human Resources, stated that in a bid to expand coverage and bring the Scheme closer to its members, the Director General of NASSIT, Mohamed Fuaad Daboh saw the necessity of establishing an Office in the Northwest Region.
He revealed that a building was rented to temporarily house the operations of the office and a land acquired to construct a permanent ultra-modern structure.
The General Manager noted that the visit was to show the bidders the proposed construction site that would guide them in the preparation of their Bills of Quantity for the project.
According to the General Manager, the Northwest is a virgin region that needs to be explored. “I see a lot of potential in this region and I know we are here for the right reasons,” he said.
The Project Manager, Abel Onomake, intimated the gathering that the visit was to present the proposed construction site to the bidders to enable them determine the topography of the land, its configuration, physical site and proximity of materials to be needed during the construction.
He said the site was a two-acre land out of which 70% would be used to house the office and 30% for the Regional Manager’s quarters. He encouraged the bidders to pay attention to every detail of the land and ask all the necessary questions they would require answers to.
On his part, a member of the NASSIT Board of Trustees, Mohamed S. Bangura cautioned the potential winner that the task ahead would be herculean. He said the Northwest region has huge potential as it accounts for a good number of mining companies, the airport and the proposed barracks. “Whoever wins the contract should be committed to building a standard and ultra-modern structure. It must reflect the status of NASSIT in fifty years to come,” he concluded.
Speaking on behalf of the Paramount Chief, the Chiefdom Speaker, Chief Malampa M. A. Tarawally, noted that the day was a glorious one for the people of Northwest Region and Port Loko in particular. He said they had been anticipating the project for a long time and were more than happy that it was finally here. He informed the gathering that due process was followed in acquiring the land.
Chief Malampa used the occasion to express gratitude to the President of the Republic, His Excellency Retired Brigadier Julius Maada Bio for bringing development to the district and their region. He revealed that in less than three years, the President had brought tremendous development in their city such as a Girls Secondary school, NASSIT structure and Training Institute for building manpower capacity in the Region.
The Chief appealed to the potential winner to make use of their local labour in the construction process. “Port Loko has skilled and unskilled labour whose involvement will enhance community ownership of the project,” he admonished.
The meeting ended with a question and answer session and a conducted tour with the bidders.
