BPP, EFCC, ICPC partner to tackle corruption in Nigeria’s procurement system

By Kunle Sanni

Aiming to tackle corruption and promote greater accountability in public procurement processes, the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has announced a partnership with key anti-corruption agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Director-General of the BPP, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, made this known on Monday at a national stakeholders’ workshop with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Abuja. The workshop focused on emerging trends in procurement and the pivotal role of CSOs in driving reforms.

Delivering his address at the event—which was declared open by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, represented by ministry official Suleiman Haruna—Dr. Adedokun underscored the importance of cross-institutional collaboration in strengthening Nigeria’s public finance system.

“Our resolve to further strengthen the integrity of the public procurement system in Nigeria remains unshaken,” Adedokun said. “We have deepened our collaboration with agencies such as the EFCC, ICPC, NEITI, the Code of Conduct Bureau, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), and others, to introduce stronger preventive mechanisms against corruption.”

He further explained that the BPP’s reform initiatives extend beyond federal agencies to state and local governments, through cooperation with sub-national procurement regulatory bodies and the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON).

Dr. Adedokun also revealed that the Bureau would soon publish a revised list of approved CSOs eligible to monitor procurement activities. A circular, he said, would direct Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to coordinate with the BPP before engaging CSOs for bid openings.

“Only CSOs listed in our official Register of Procurement Monitors will be recommended for such engagements,” he noted.

Describing public procurement as a strategic pillar of national development, the BPP boss emphasized the need for transparency, effective contract management, and CSO involvement. While he commended digital platforms like the Nigeria Open Contracting Portal (NOCOPO) for enhancing transparency, he acknowledged that several challenges still hinder full reform implementation.