Invitation To Tender: Maintenance Of Generators At Aso Villa

By Reuben Abati

DUE to a recent act of sabotage which resulted in power outage at the Presidential Villa, Asokoro, Abuja, the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua out of concern that this national security breach should never again occur anywhere near the seat of power has directed the Tenders Board at the Presidency to issue the following invitation to tender for the supply, and maintainance of generating plants to ensure uninterrupted power supply at the Presidential Villa, and to forestall such a situation as occurred on Wednesday, June 10, when the Federal Executive Council Chambers and the entire Presidential Villa were without electricity.

Although the incident lasted for about 10 minutes and was promptly brought under control by a combined team of the nation's ever-vigilant and loyal intelligence agencies, His Excellency has directed that the cause(s) of the power outage, remote and immediate, should be carefully investigated. Initial investigations by the intelligence agencies led by the National Security Adviser, all the Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police indicate that the generating plants in the Presidential Villa may have been compromised by persons with Niger Delta, June 12, and opposition party sympathies. Mr President views this act of sabotage with all the seriousness that it deserves. To this end, a high-powered inter-Ministerial committee to be headed by the Hon. Minister of Power has been set up to submit its findings to the Presidency within two weeks. Members of the committee are permitted to seek technical support from any part of the world, including the prestigious Harvard University. Considering the seriousness of the matter still and the need to address it expeditiously, this invitation to tender is hereby issued under Presidential seal:

(1) Companies, individuals and other relevant agencies are invited to submit tender bids for the purchase, supply and maintenance of heavy duty generators with capacity to supply electricity to the Presidential Villa for 24 hours non-stop, seven days a week, and 365 days a year.

(2) The quotation for the aforesaid generators must include the cost of maintenance. Successful bidders may be awarded a provisional licence to enable them import diesel and petrol at concessionary rates for the exclusive use of generators within the Presidential Villa, and its environs, and to prevent such a strange situation as was reported that efforts "to put on standby generators were not successful" or that there is fuel scarcity at the Presidency.

(3) Please note that the Tenders Board is interested only in such generating plants that are rugged, capable of withstanding extreme pressure, and not such that may be prone to breaking down during Executive Council meetings or receptions for visiting foreign dignitaries.This government takes its job seriously and is determined to ensure that serious events such as Council meetings are not disrupted by power outages. We thank God that the power outage on Wednesday did not occur at a time when His Excellency was receiving a foreign dignitary.

(4) The Federal Government may at a future date consider the award of contracts for the supply and maintenance of generators for nationwide distribution as an interim measure to ensure the fulfilment of the President's honest promise of 6, 000 MW of electricity by December 2009.

(5) This release therefore marks the first step in the declaration of a state of emergency in the power sector.

(6) Respondents to this invitation to bid must be only persons of great patriotic commitment. Successful bidders must be willing to subject themselves and the generators that they supply to rigorous security screening. Where any whiff of sabotage or mischief is detected, the act shall be treated as an act of treasonable felony. Generators with Tokunbo, or used second-hand parts, are unacceptable.

(7) The Presidency is in the process of forwarding an Executive Bill to the National Assembly to provide legislative protection for all generating plants owned by the Government of Nigeria. These are classified as national assets, held in trust for the Nigerian people.

(8) The President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces announced in May that his government will do anything to ensure regular and uninterrupted supply of electricity in the country. The generator initiative is one of the many templates for fulfilling this promise to Nigerians. Suppliers of generating sets must be prepared to see their engagement as part of a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

(9) Bidders must also note that the Presidency hopes through this initiative to create thousands of jobs for Nigerians as part of the government's employment generation drive. Presidential generators have up till now been managed by German contractors. The President now directs that bidders for the supply and maintenance of the Presidential fleet of generators must show proof of Nigerian citizenship.

(10) Proof of capacity to provide insurance cover for the generating plants will be an added advantage.

(11) Successful bidders may also be required to be members of a special committtee, soon to be constituted which would look into the modalities for incorporating this generator initiative into government's objective of making Nigeria one of the 20 largest economies in the world by the year 2020.

(12) Special consideration may be accorded Nigerians in Diaspora with technical expertise, as part of government's determination to provide opportunities for Nigerians abroad. This should help them manage the challenges of the global credit crunch and insipre many of them to return to their fatherland. Many Nigerians abroad have been writing unpatriotic articles against their country on the internet. Government is interested in giving them opportunities to return home to be part of the great renewal that is on-going across the country.

(13) The bids may not include the notorious ten per cent and no price variations will be allowed once contracts are awarded.

(14) The bid assessment process will be confidential and fair and strictly in accordance with the rule of law. Interested parties are advised not to attempt to influence the Tenders Board. Traditional rulers, Pastors, Imams, spiritual consultants, and party chairmen are hereby strictly advised not to interfere.

(15) Six copies of the bid application should reach The Tenders Board, The Presidential Generating Sets Initiative, Presidential Villa, Asokoro, not later than two weeks from the date of this publication.

(16) Only shortlisted bidders will be contacted.

Finally, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria remains committed to his promise to ensure uninterrupted power supply across the country. Saboteurs in the power and energy sector who are thwarting this administration's attempts to serve Nigerians and meet their expectations are hereby advised that henceforth there shall be zero tolerance for their misdeeds. Our dear country Nigeria will be 50 years old as an independent nation in 2010. Now is the time to begin the preparations for the celebration of that grand occassion. A Presidential Task Force drawn from the elite corps of the Armed Forces, is being considered to provide special security for government-owned generators. The Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) will soon be subjected to a process of audit, prelude to its likely disbandment. We cannot afford to fail in the delivery of critical infrastructure, the first item on the seven-point agenda.

We thank Nigerians for their understanding. Government counts on the support of the generality of the people as it wages war against the forces of darkness.

Chairman, Tenders Board in charge of Presidential Power Generating Sets

Sgd.

Robot  # 1 | 14.06.2009 09:45

Invitation To Tender: Maintenance Of Generators At Aso Villa By Reuben Abati DUE to a recent act of sabotage which resulted in power outage at the Presidential Villa, Asokoro, Abuja, the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua out of concern that this national security breach should never again occur anywhere near the seat of power has directed the Tenders Board at the Presidency to issue the following invitation to tender for the supply, and maintainance of generating plants to ensure uninterrupted power supply at the Presidential Villa, and to forestall such a situation as occurred on Wednesday, June 10, when the Federal Executive Council Chambers and the entire Presidential Villa were without electricity. Although the incident lasted for about 10 minutes and was promptly brought under control by a combined team of the nation's ever-vigilant and lo...Read the full article.

Johnny  # 2 | 14.06.2009 13:35

This has to be a joke, right!! I have often felt that despite our setbacks (poor leadership), the future of Nigeria looks bright. We have very smart people in abundance, and it's only a matter of time before we get the right people in place and the country will see her potential. However, when I read stories like this, I get frightened that Nigeria as a nation is headed in the wrong direction. Running a government with a patchwork of generating sets, no matter how rugged and good the manufacturer may claim them to be is the wrong thing to do. More so, making it the official state policy to power the country with generating sets defies logic. Generating sets are supposed to be used as stop-gap measures for when there is a power failure; making it the official state policy, even as a short term solution is wrong policy. And opening up tenders to the general public to supply the federal government with generator sets is showing that the government is grasping at straws. It has no formulated policy with regards to power supply. The government is seeking solutions in all the wrong places. The country already is running on generator sets and it hasn't solved the power problem. I don't know of any Nigerian family, at least in the cities that doesn't own a generating set. Businesses are failing due to inadequate power supply or prohibitive cost of operating these generators. Also, the generating sets are polluting our environment from noise, toxic fumes, and in some cases killing our citizens from carbon monoxide poisoning and unintended fire mishaps. Solution: The government should be looking at real solutions, not stop gap measures that defer the problem to the next administration. The government should constitute a group of well meaning Nigerians with knowledge of the power sector to formulate a sustainable policy on how to build new power plants and repair existing ones. The government should also be open to try new ideas. For instance, the government should strongly consider breaking up PHCN and assist the states in finding ways to setting up individual power plants that feeds into a national grid. I am not advocating for changing our federal system. The intent is to find better ways for the government to deliver basic services to her citizens. Building of new power plants in the states should be a private initiative, but regulated by the state government and overseen by the federal government. There could be multiple power companies in each state to provide for oligopolistic competition. The local private power companies can seek out foreign partners to help set up and run these plants. Once operational, a part of the proceeds that consumers pay in the form light bill can still be remitted back to the states and federal government as taxes. Some of this initiative may already be under way on a small scale in some states, but the government should encourage them in all states. If history should be our guide, the federal government has failed in the building and maintenance of our infrastructure. It hasn’t been able to deliver on electricity supply, telephone services, water supply, and road construction and maintenance. It should concede that it cannot provide these services and let the state governments and private industry be given the authority to do so. This should be a benefit to all. Johnny

Agidimolaja  # 3 | 14.06.2009 21:33

Rankadede, Sir Yaradua.You did well. You surely deserve second term and possibly the third one also.

Chyval  # 4 | 15.06.2009 01:16

Tell me, what again do you need to know Nigeria is a failed state?

Ranter  # 5 | 15.06.2009 04:40

They will revoke your precious land allocation if you dont keep it low, Reuben.

agensheku  # 6 | 15.06.2009 07:19

I humbly apply to supply highly efficient,reliable and super power generators to our seat of power.i have twenty years practical on-the-job experience supplying generators only to seats of power.our head office is located in Switzerland and we assist facilitators to keep their nest eggs safe and beyond the prying eyes of anyone and everyone!if you give us this contract,we shall make you,your wife and children live in eldorado for life.if you doubt our ability to deliver,pass us your account and let us daze you for even introducing this opening to us.no no no,dont thank us o,or what are friends for?what i like about our sitting cow shaped nija is no matter how many pieces of meat they tear away,the cow gets fatter.we await your prompt and definitely positive reply.yours in the service of our great nation.hello,is that Hummer corporation of america?pls reserve two units for me,factory aircon,all round air bags,bullet proofing,full options!!!pinch me someone,am i dreaming or has the dough finally arrived!!!:drool::clap::drool:

Mikky jaga  # 7 | 15.06.2009 07:57

Light from any source is better than no light at all. If it requires massive importation of Generators to make the power sector work, fine. If the billions OBJ spent on the power sector was used to import Generators, we would be closer to target than we are now. Up YarAdua. With you at the helms, we are destined to be amongst the 1st world Nations by the year 2020.

Eace  # 8 | 15.06.2009 07:59

While Aso-Rock awaits the resolution of this sad state of affairs, has it considered a Plan B; an option A4; an alternative contract for the supply of lamps, candles, etc? Y'know -just in case the generators don't appear, get lost, are stolen, are sub-standard or, heavens forbid, break down...

ronksronks  # 9 | 17.06.2009 13:01

when a nation(not a home) as great as Nigeria solely depends on generator then what should mozambique hold on to.....atupa. its so sad,this is a shameful thing that should not be made public but our president has decided to wash our dirty linen in public. industries are moving, the cost of production has skyrocketed,what then is the hope of small businesses or the upcoming ones,if only there is a Daniel in our power sector. phcn............may your soul rest in peace:(

ronksronks  # 10 | 17.06.2009 13:13

this was sent to me and i found it very funny.... April 20, 2009 The Area Manager, NEPA, Lagos Dear Sir, COMPLAINT ABOUT YOUR SERVICES I am writing to you with a deep sense of humility and gentleness. I consider this a great opportunity to communicate with an entity as awe-inspiring as yourself. Firstly, I bring greetings to you from residents of my area in Lagos. As a dutiful citizen, I consider this letter as part of my civic responsibilities. Great countries comprise of citizens who are alive to their responsibilities. As a famous musician once said, "Ask not what your country can eat from you but what you can eat from your country." I have benefited immensely from this country; therefore I have decided to give back. I want to bring to your notice some strange occurrences which have been happening in my area. I want to sadly inform you that in the last 2 weeks, electricity has been stable. In other words, we sleep and wake up with electricity, we go to work and come back and electricity is still running. This is a terribly news and I must add DANGEROUS development in the lives of residents of my area. This is something we are not used to. This is too much electricity for us to handle. In the first week of constant electricity, I started acting strangely. I ironed all my clothes and my wife own because I didn't know when "light" will be impounded on your orders. After 2 days, the "light" was still there. Therefore, I proceeded to re-iron the ironed clothes thinking they were not well ironed. Can you imagined? My fridge which had not seen "4 hours" of constant light for months suddenly started freezing. In order to enjoy the maximum effects of refrigeration, I have decided to be drinking 20 cups of cold water before I go to sleep. Once I finish a cup, I put the bottle back into the fridge. After 10 minutes, the water cools and I drink. I just don't know what to do. The light is cauisng harm. All the Ceiling fans in my house have been switched on alongside my AC. They have not worked for months. My deck is playing at a high level. My life is now in state of chaos because of constant "light". My TV and VCD player are complaining of high blood pressure, as they have been terribly overworked in the last few weeks. Half of my light bulbs have gone on strike to protest their resurrection from blissful death. Is the light not up to something? All the customers in the beer parlour beside my house are complaining that the beer is too cold and wants to destroy their teeth. Even the rats and cockroaches are complaining that human assailants find it easier to track and exterminate them under electric light than under candlelight. All the witches and wizards that regularly visited me in my sleep have suddenly taken flight in the presence of "light". Now I have to review my membership of MFM (Mountain of Fire and Miracles) since their work has been done. Can you imagine what will happen to the membership of churches if constant 'light' persists? No more demons, no more night vigil. People attend much because of heat and in the church they will switch on gen set With the above situation not abating, I decided to seek the reason behind this strange situation. This task was made easy for me when I realised that it was the work of saboteurs. Sabotage is the main reason for anything going wrong / right in our country. Our elections were sabotaged, our president's health is being sabotaged. Therefore this constant "light" is the handiwork of saboteurs within your work system. These disgruntled individuals are enemies of progress who want you miss your set targets. These enemies want you to score very low on your KPI assessment. I realised this fact when I stumbled on a document showing your Key Performance Indicators for every month. These are: 1. Explosive growth in the amount of Candle-lit dinners and balcony-bedrooms 2. Massive boom in the sales of Candles, torchlight, generators, inverters and lanterns 3. Increased work place productivity due to Employees spending at least 16 hours at work because there is no light at home 4. Massive growth of Rock music fan clubs being aided by the endless sound of generators that are switched on overnight. 5. Volume of human blood being sucked by mosquitoes unchallenged by ceiling/standing fans 6. Incidence of heat rashes 7. Large Increase in Naming ceremonies: When people have no light at home, what else do they do with their time other than *******? Sir, I strongly feel that the above achievements will not be possible if we keep on having "light". The saboteurs in your workplace will make you look stupid and incapable in front of your bosses. The repercussions of this charade would be unbearable. This is why I am writing to you now. As a responsible citizen, if I do not volunteer this information, I know that I will be the one to suffer. The day you realise that I have been enjoying endless light for 2 weeks, you will pay me back with 2 black months. The end will be worse than the beginning, thereof. I am at a crossroad. This is a major dilemma. Should I keep quiet? No I won't. This is because Evil triumphs when Good Men keep silent. Your incompetent staffs have left the light switch on and gone to sleep. I know you will take back all that we have stolen from you but Please remember my house in the day of recompense. Your humble servant Myself

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