The Kano State Drugs and Medical Consumable Supply Agency has announced a new round of bidding, inviting more companies to supply drugs and hospital equipment to the state. This move is aimed at enhancing healthcare service delivery across the state.
Grassroots parrots gathered that the bidding workshop took place in Kaduna State, where medical firms were rigorously screened for eligibility to participate in the supply process.
Each company was required to provide a certificate of registration and a taxpayer’s certificate as part of the screening process. Pharmacist Ghali Sule, the Managing Director of the agency, noted that the names of the successful companies would be announced soon. He reiterated the agency’s commitment to providing genuine, available, and affordable medical products to improve healthcare services in Kano.
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Pharmacist Sule expressed gratitude to Kano State Governor Eng. Abba Kabir Yusuf, Health Commissioner Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, and other key stakeholders for their unwavering support. He also emphasized that the agency’s efforts align with international standards for improving healthcare quality and ensuring the availability of affordable medical products.
The public relations officer of the agency, Malam Faruk Isa Musa, affirmed that only high-quality medical products meeting the agency’s standards would be procured. He stressed that both price and quality would be carefully considered during the procurement process.
This new bid invitation follows weeks of controversy over a N440 million drug supply contract awarded to Novomed Pharmacy, owned by Garba Musa Kwankwaso, a nephew of former Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. The contract, issued under the state’s Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, has been the subject of an investigation by the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) for alleged violations of procurement laws.
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Several officials have been interrogated in connection with the scandal, including the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mohammed Kabara, and the Chairman of the state branch of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, Abdullahi Bashir.
Musa Garba, the owner of Novomed Pharmacy, has responded to the anti-graft commission’s invitation through his legal counsel, Okechukwu Nwaeze. Garba indicated his willingness to cooperate with the investigation but raised concerns about facing simultaneous investigations from multiple anti-corruption agencies, including the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“Our client is ready to face any interrogation, but the challenge of being invited by three anti-graft bodies for the same matter is more than double jeopardy,” Nwaeze stated, adding that they may seek legal clarification on the matter in court.
The fresh bidding process by the Kano State Drugs and Medical Consumable Supply Agency is seen as an effort to restore transparency and confidence in the state’s procurement practices while the investigation into the Novomed contract continues.