The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Rev. Dr Yakubu Pam has said that integrity is not only preached in NCPC but it is also practiced. He stated this at the bid opening process for the forthcoming 2022 pilgrimage exercise to Israel, Jordan and Rome. The event took place at the NCPC conference hall on 20th September, 2022.
Rev. Pam in his opening remarks thanked God for witnessing the first process of bid opening since his assumption in office on 7th July 2020 following his appointment as the third substantive Executive Secretary of NCPC.
Rev. Pam said, NCPC is saddled with the responsibility of airlifting pilgrims to holy sites around the world, according to him, his administration discovered Jordan as an additional destination and he promised to discover more holy sites for pilgrimage in the nearest future.
He affirmed that one of his agenda of office is to fight corruption and he intends to achieve that through the bid opening process for contractors which he said would be open and transparent. “Let everyone know that NCPC is proud to represent Christians in Nigeria, integrity is not only preached here, but also practiced”, he said.
The NCPC boss commended the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, for his tireless effort in supervising the affairs of not only the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission but 13 other MDA’s in the country.
The Chairman, House Committee on Pilgrims Affairs, Hon. Abubakar Nalaraba who was present at the bid opening process informed that this is one of the important aspects of pilgrimage. The success and failure of a pilgrimage starts with airlifting, if we get it right, we will have a successful pilgrimage exercise, he said.
Hon. Nalaraba applauded the Commission for being on the right direction in making the bidding transparent and successful for bidders.
He applauded the Executive Secretary for his tireless efforts in making the pilgrimage exercise a success through his innovative ideas that has brought light to the Commission and also for successfully conducted pilgrimage exercise with minimal or zero record of abscondment, according to him, “he has exceeded his expectations without doubt”.
The Director General, Bureau of Public Procurement, who was represented by Mr. Ojougboh Nelson in his address, described the bid opening process as part of the evaluation process of documents for possible contract. He said, the exercise was transparent, charging bidders to always listen to instructions on advertisements and follow it properly. According to him, documents that are not enveloped or named appropriately would not be attended to going forward.
The NCPC Head of Procurement, Mr. Sunday Umujose conducted the bid opening exercise which had two submissions for air carriers and five submissions for ground handlers. He disclosed that the evaluation process would kick start in no distant time and he assured that the selection process would be free and fair
