The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.), has annulled all procurement and tendering activities conducted by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies in the state, citing legal and financial irregularities.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibibia Worika, Ibas explained that the decision follows the recent Supreme Court ruling and the lack of an Appropriation Law covering the affected period.
“In adherence to the Supreme Court judgment upholding the Appeal Court ruling in Suit No. CA/ABJ/CV/133/2024 and in the absence of an Appropriation Law, all procurement and tender processes carried out by MDAs during this period are hereby cancelled,” the statement read.
The directive further mandates MDAs that had engaged in such tendering processes to refund all tender fees to contractors without delay.
“All Ministries, Departments, and Agencies that carried out such tender processes for projects in their respective offices are, by this special announcement, mandated to refund such tender fees to the respective contractors immediately, pending the approval of a spending plan by the state, which shall be notified in due course,” the statement added.
