JALINGO WATER SUPPLY: FIVE FIRMS JOSTLE FOR ACReSAL RESERVOIR INTERCONNECTION CONTRACT

JALINGO WATER SUPPLY: FIVE FIRMS JOSTLE FOR ACReSAL RESERVOIR INTERCONNECTION CONTRACT

…Project targets connection of primary reservoirs to existing distribution network

By Taraba News | Jalingo | September 3, 2026

Efforts to improve water supply in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, have received a fresh boost as the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project opened bids for the proposed interconnection of reservoirs under the Jalingo Primary Water Supply Scheme with the existing water distribution network.

The development represents another stage in the procurement process for the proposed project and raises expectations that, when eventually awarded and executed, the intervention could improve the movement and distribution of water from the primary reservoirs to different parts of Jalingo connected to the existing network.

The bid opening exercise took place on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at the Taraba State Ministry of Environment and Climate Change in Jalingo, with representatives of participating companies and relevant officials present.

Five companies submitted bids for the project.

They are PREZZO SHED Investment Limited, Primate Venture Limited, Thomas Chase Limited, HYSES/RIBEIRO JV and RIT-BEULAII Engineering Services Limited.

The proposed work is expected to provide the necessary interconnection between reservoirs under the Jalingo Primary Water Supply Scheme and the existing distribution infrastructure.

This is considered an important component of the water supply chain, as the availability of water at reservoirs does not automatically translate into adequate supply to consumers without the infrastructure required to move the water into the distribution network.

For residents of Jalingo, many of whom have continued to contend with challenges associated with access to reliable public water supply, the latest development could therefore be significant if the procurement process leads to the successful award and implementation of the project.

Declaring the bid opening exercise open, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Aminu Ayuba, said the process marked another step towards the eventual award of the contract.

Ayuba recalled that an earlier bidding exercise conducted by the ministry had been peaceful and expressed confidence that the latest exercise would equally be conducted in an orderly and transparent manner.

He stressed the importance of ensuring that whichever company eventually emerges successful carries out the work according to the required specifications and standards.

The Permanent Secretary particularly emphasised quality delivery, noting that the ultimate objective should be to ensure that the project serves the purpose for which it is intended.

Also speaking during the exercise, the Taraba State ACReSAL Project Coordinator, Dr. Clement Yakubu Giwa, assured the participating companies that their submissions would be subjected to professional evaluation in accordance with the stipulated requirements.

Giwa explained that the opening of the bids did not amount to the award of the contract, as the companies would still undergo an evaluation process.

According to him, the evaluation team would examine the bids based on technical requirements and other relevant criteria before determining the company most qualified for the job.

He said ACReSAL remained committed to transparency and adherence to best practices throughout the procurement process.

The Project Coordinator also acknowledged the efforts of companies that travelled from different locations to participate in the exercise, assuring all the bidders of equal treatment.

He maintained that the evaluation would be carried out fairly and professionally, with the eventual decision expected to be based on compliance with the stipulated requirements.

The opening of bids comes against the backdrop of persistent concerns over water supply in Jalingo, where population growth and continued expansion of residential areas have increased demand for potable water.

Across several parts of the state capital, residents have at different times had to depend on alternative sources of water when public supply is inadequate or unavailable.

This has increased the importance of investments aimed at strengthening both water production and distribution infrastructure within the city.

The proposed ACReSAL intervention is specifically targeted at the interconnection of reservoirs with the existing distribution network, meaning that its eventual impact will depend on the successful completion of the procurement process, award of the contract and actual execution of the proposed works.

The bid opening should therefore not be mistaken for the completion or commissioning of the project.

Following Thursday’s exercise, attention will now shift to the technical and other evaluations of the five participating companies.

The evaluation process is expected to determine which bidder meets the required conditions for consideration for the contract.

Thereafter, the appropriate procurement procedures are expected to be followed towards the eventual award and commencement of the work.

For Jalingo residents, however, the development offers renewed hope that one of the major infrastructure gaps affecting the city’s water supply system could receive attention.

Beyond the availability of water at source, an efficient distribution network remains critical to ensuring that treated water reaches communities, households, businesses and public institutions.

The planned reservoir interconnection is therefore expected, upon successful execution, to strengthen the capacity of the existing system to distribute water across the state capital.

The project also comes at a time when the need for reliable water infrastructure has become increasingly important as Jalingo continues to expand.

With new settlements and residential areas emerging across the metropolis, pressure on existing public infrastructure, including water facilities, has continued to grow.

The success of the proposed intervention will consequently be measured not merely by the award of the contract but by the quality and timely execution of the work and, ultimately, the extent to which it contributes to improved water delivery to residents.

For now, no contractor has been announced as the winner.

The five bids will first undergo evaluation, after which the company that satisfies the required technical and other procurement criteria may emerge for the next stage of the process.

Residents will now be watching developments closely, particularly the conclusion of the evaluation, eventual contract award, commencement of work and whether the intervention ultimately translates into a more reliable supply of water in Jalingo.