The Kano State Drugs and Medical Consumable Supply Agency has opened a fresh bid inviting more companies to supply drugs and hospital equipment to the state in order to enhance healthcare service delivery.
DailyNews24 reports that the workshop took place in Kaduna State and focused on screening medical firms seeking to supply medicine and hospital equipment to the agency.
The process involved thorough screening of including providing a certificate of registration and a taxpayer’s certificate for each company.
In his remarks, Pharmacist Ghali Sule, the Managing Director of agency, stated that the names of the successful companies will be announced shortly.
He emphasized the agency’s commitment to providing genuine, available, and affordable medical products to enhance healthcare in the state.
Pharmacist Sule also expressed gratitude to Kano State Governor Eng. Abba Kabir Yusuf, the commissioner of Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, and other stakeholders for their unwavering support.
Also read: Kano anti-graft commission arrests Kwankwaso’s nephew
He stressed that the plan is internationally recognized for improving quality healthcare and ensuring the availability of affordable products.
Also speaking, the public relations officer of the agency, Malam Faruk Isa Musa, affirmed that the agency will only procure medical products that meet their standards for quality and price.
Daily News 24 reports that this is coming weeks after a controversy erupted following claims that a single pharmaceutical company, Novomed Pharmacy, had secured a N440 million drug supply contract contrary to the state’s procurement laws.
Novomed Pharmacy, owned by Garba Musa Kwankwaso, a nephew of former governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso had received the contract under the state’s Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
Already the state’s Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission(PCACC) had launched a probe into the scandal.
The investigation led to the interrogation of several officials, including the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mohammed Kabara; the Chairman of the state branch of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, Abdullahi Bashir; and other officials of the Ministry of Local Government, who were initially detained.
Honouring the invitation of the anti-graft commission invitation with his lawyers, Musa Garba, the owner of Novomed noted that he needed clarification on the invitation for interrogation.
Speaking through his Council, Okechukwu Nwaeze, Mr Garba said apart from the invitation of the Kano State Anti-corruption Agency, they have another invitation from ICPC and EFCC on the same matter.
However, he noted that there is a subsisting judicial ruling that a person cannot be facing interrogation or trial for a singular offence by several organisations.
“Our client is ready to face any interrogation but the challenge of invitation of three anti-graft bodies for the same matter is more than double jeopardy,” Nwaeze said.
He noted that they may be considering challenging the numerous invitations in court for clarification.
By Nabil Jibril
