A total of 243 firms are bidding for 57 Federal Government water related projects in Kano, Bauchi, Jigawa and Yobe states. The projects include water supply, small irrigation schemes, construction of earth dams and erosion control.

Speaking in Kano at the opening of the financial bid for contracts captured in this year's budget, the managing director, Hadejia-Jama'are River Basin Development Authority, Engineer Faruk Sambo, said Kano South senatorial district and Bauchi North senatorial district would benefit from the water supply project.

The managing director, represented by Engineer Babayo Mohammed Chinade, said the exercise and the previous one were conducted in line with the provisions of the procurement act.

The bid, according to him, was to determine contractors with the least evaluated bid price for each of the projects. He then urged those, who may win the contracts to execute the projects according to specifications.

A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the river basin authority, Salisu Baba Hamzat, said Hadejia, Auyo and Kafin Hausa Local Government Areas of Jigawa State would equally benefit from the water scheme.

It also added that Unguwar Abuja Gamawa in Bauchi State as well as Tarauni and Gaya Local Government Areas in Kano would have erosion control projects with land reclamation at Jama'are Local Government Area, also in Bauchi.