Jos, Nigeria – April 8, 2026

The Plateau State Specialist Hospital has commenced a transparent procurement process for the supply of critical medical and office equipment, with 17 firms competing for various contracts.

The bid opening, held at the hospital’s boardroom on Tuesday, followed a public invitation to tender issued earlier to qualified and registered contractors. The procurement exercise covers a wide range of equipment grouped into different lots, including dental, physiotherapy, orthopedic instruments and implants, theatre and surgical equipment, ophthalmology tools, hearing test devices, urological equipment, and office supplies.

Speaking at the event, Chief Medical Director, Christopher Yilgwan, said the initiative reflects the commitment of the Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang administration to openness, accountability, and improved service delivery in the health sector.

He explained that the government’s “open door and open book policy” informed the decision to make the process public, allowing stakeholders and observers to witness proceedings firsthand.

“We want the people we serve to be part of what we are doing. This process is about ensuring that Plateau citizens get the best healthcare services through quality equipment,” Yilgwan stated.

Addressing concerns that procurement processes are sometimes predetermined, he assured that all bids would undergo a thorough technical evaluation by professionals, including end-users of the equipment, to ensure compliance with required standards.

According to him, the hospital places a premium on quality and safety, noting that outdated equipment—some of which have been in use for decades—has necessitated the current upgrade effort.

He added that after the bid opening, the next stage would involve a detailed technical review of submissions by a specialized committee, after which recommendations would be made for contract awards.

Also speaking, Director of Planning, Research and Statistics and Chairman of the Bid Opening Committee, Jonathan Bulus, emphasized that the open process was designed to ensure fairness, transparency, and healthy competition among bidders.

Observers commended the exercise for its inclusiveness. Chairman of the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations on Health in Plateau State, Christopher Damcher, described the process as encouraging and capable of minimizing disputes if sustained through all stages.

“It gives hope seeing this level of transparency. If the process continues this way, it will likely end without unnecessary conflicts,” he said.

One of the bidders, Gondys Simon, expressed confidence in the process, noting that transparency would ensure that competent contractors are selected and that the hospital ultimately benefits from quality supplies.

The procurement exercise is expected to proceed with pre-qualification and technical evaluation phases, as part of broader efforts by the Plateau State Government to strengthen the healthcare system and enhance service delivery across the state.