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Nigeria’s procurement reform: New era of transparency and accountability

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9 months ago

September 29, 2025

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By Sufuyan Ojeifo

Every year, the United States Department of State releases its Fiscal Transparency Report, a document that often provokes both debate and defence across Africa. In its 2025 edition, Nigeria was included among 32 countries said to face challenges of fiscal transparency, with particular reference to budget execution and the independence of audit institutions.

To be fair, while such reports provide an external perspective, they do not always capture the lived reality of reform on the ground. In Nigeria, a revolution has been unfolding in public procurement. Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, public procurement, which channels more than 70 per cent of the federal budget, is being transformed into a system of transparency, accountability, and value for money.

At the centre of this effort is the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), led by Director General, Dr Adebowale Abraham Adedokun. His response to the report was a calm assurance of policy and performance. He presented a catalogue of reforms that shows procurement is moving from suspicion to trust, from bottleneck to enabler, and from rhetoric to measurable results.

The starting point of reform has been fidelity to the Public Procurement Act of 2007. There is significant improvement in terms of public notices. Contract awards follow due process. These are institutionally mandated practices, reinforced by presidential circulars and powered by benchmarking and price intelligence tools that prevent inflated bids and ensure value for money.

The Nigeria Open Contracting Portal (NOCOPO) is being upgraded and linked with the Bureau’s website, which will be launched soon. Through NOCOPO, contract awards and implementation data are published monthly. Civil society, journalists, legislators, and ordinary citizens can log into NOCOPO, track expenditures, and see the decisions taken in real time.

The BPP has also embedded anti-graft institutions directly into the procurement cycle. The EFCC, the ICPC, the Police, and the Code of Conduct Bureau work hand in hand with the Bureau to investigate and prosecute infractions. In 2024 alone, more than 40 firms were blacklisted and refunds were compelled. Since 2023, over 100 contractors have been debarred. These measures demonstrate not only transparency but also enforcement.

● Harnessing technology for efficiency and accountability

Technology and decentralisation have delivered the clearest dividends of reform. NOCOPO, aligned with global open contracting standards, has become the country’s digital price checker. Between January and June 2025, it saved ₦173 billion by identifying inflated costs and rejecting bids that did not reflect market realities.

The broader effect has been to shorten timelines. Procurement cycles that once took 120 days in 2023 now close in an average of 45 days. This acceleration has brought direct benefits to citizens in terms of execution of contracts. Some argue that faster timelines might compromise oversight. The evidence suggests otherwise. The revised thresholds approved by President Tinubu in May 2025 keep contracts above ₦5 billion for goods and services and above ₦10 billion for works firmly under Federal Executive Council scrutiny. What has changed is that smaller projects can now be processed by ministerial tenders boards, subject to post review by the Bureau. Oversight is intact, but delivery is swifter.

A striking illustration of openness is the case of a foreign company that won a Nigerian government contract without ever setting foot in the country. Its owners submitted bids online, received the award digitally, and commenced execution from abroad. Payments have been processed promptly. If the system were opaque or compromised, such a process would not be possible.

● Capacity building and inclusive procurement

Another line of criticism is that reforms on paper are not matched by human capacity. The government has moved to address this directly. For the first time in over a decade, resources are being committed to training procurement officers nationwide. Through the Nigeria Procurement Certification Programme, more than 8,000 officers have been certified, with a further 1,200 young professionals mentored. The National Procurement Officers Management System (NAPOMS) ensures each officer is traceable and accountable. Decisions are no longer faceless. They are recorded, reviewable, and attributable.

To strengthen the chain of oversight, the Bureau of Public Procurement has upgraded the National Database of Contractors, Consultants, and Service Providers. This platform categorises and pre-qualifies service providers in line with Section 5(h) of the Procurement Act. By ensuring that only properly vetted entities can bid, the risk of abandoned projects is reduced, and compliance with standards is enforced.

Reforms have also widened participation. The Nigeria First policy has secured 45 per cent local content in procurement. The BPP is developing and finetuning policies on affirmative procurement, which will reserve nearly a quarter of contracts for women-led firms and small businesses as well as community-based procurement which will ensure that local suppliers in rural areas gain from government spending. These are in the process of being implemented.

Within the BPP itself, reform has been institutional as well as operational. The headquarters in Abuja is being rehabilitated into a modern facility. Staff members’ welfare has been improved through promotions, training, and better conditions of service. A 2024 survey showed a satisfaction rate above 90 per cent, the highest in more than a decade. Staff members now speak of belonging to an institution that values them. That morale feeds directly into the vigour with which reforms are carried out.

● The future of Nigeria’s procurement: Progress amid challenges

There are those who argue that these measures are not enough, that transparency is still elusive. But one must judge reform by both trajectory and evidence. Wrongly awarded contracts are being reversed in favour of legitimate winners. Contractors now report infractions directly to the Bureau, confident that their petitions will be heard. Civil society organisations participate in monitoring and evaluation. Professional bodies and development partners are engaged in continuous consultation.

To be clear, challenges remain. Some agencies still lag in compliance. Security constraints slow down projects in certain regions. Amendments to the Procurement Act are still being finalised. Yet these are not marks of inertia. They are the marks of a system that is working through its legacy burdens while moving forward with resolve.

Above all, the guiding hand of the president is unmistakable. His directive to the Bureau has been simple and firm: follow the law, be fair, and be accountable. With this political cover, the Bureau has been able to cancel inflated contracts, integrate blockchain oversight, and resist vested interests.

The bigger picture is that procurement reform in Nigeria is not a side note. It is central to the country’s development. With trillions of naira flowing through it each year, procurement is the engine that determines whether budgets become bridges, classrooms, and hospitals or whether they become stories of waste.

Nigeria’s procurement system is not perfect, but it is decisively better than it was. It is more open, more accountable, and more efficient. The system is saving money, building trust, and opening opportunities. Roads are completed on time. Hospitals are equipped transparently. Schools receive supplies without delay. Local manufacturers are finding new markets. Citizens can trace where their money goes.

As the Director General of BPP, Dr Adebowale Adedokun, has said, “Yes, we can do better, but in the last 18 months, we have done better, and we will keep marching on.”

Here is what matters more than the mistaken report of a foreign body. It is the reality unfolding on the ground: new transparent and accountable systems built, contracts delivered, and trust steadily restored, one bridge, one hospital, and one school at a time.

■ Sufuyan Ojeifo is a journalist, publisher, and communication consultant/expert.

News

Chief of Army Staff approves new commanders for major formations across federation

Published

4 hours ago

June 27, 2026

Austin Ojomah

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The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved a strategic reshuffling of senior officers across command, training, and staff positions in the Nigerian Army.

The appointments were announced on Saturday, June 27, 2026, by Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, who said the move was to enhance operational effectiveness and strengthen national security.

New GOCs for 3 and 6 Divisions–

Major General WM Dangana has been appointed General Officer Commanding 3 Division Nigerian Army and Commander Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace. He replaces Major General EF Oyinlola.

Major General EI Okoro takes over as General Officer Commanding 6 Division Nigerian Army and Land Component Commander Joint Task Force South-South Operation Delta Safe, replacing Major General EE Emeka.

–Key command and staff changes–

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Lokoja Court order on NDC: Seriake Dickson vows party will challenge order

Published

5 hours ago

June 27, 2026

Austin Ojomah

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Leader of the National Democratic Party, NDC Senator Henry Seriake Dickson has vowed that NDC will challenge court directive.

Dickson in a statement he e-signed stated that the order lacked legal merit and their team of legal experts have been kept on standby to rubbish the move.

He said : “This morning, I, like several other leaders, officials, candidates of the NDC, and members of the public, was jolted by the order issued by the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja and presided over by Honourable Justice Isah Dashen.

“All I can say is that the order lacks legal merit and is intended to affect the foundational credibility and efforts of our party. The order is illegal and will not stand. It is against multi-party democracy, anti-democratic in nature, and aimed at narrowing and stifling the democratic space.

” It will be resisted by all of us and by all lovers of democracy in Nigeria.

“We have assembled our team of lawyers, and they are taking appropriate steps to set the order aside and restore normalcy. I call on all members, supporters, and candidates of the NDC to remain calm and continue with their normal political activities.

“This is only the first test of our commitment and resilience, both of which are not in doubt. Even this shall pass, and the NDC and all our candidates shall cruise to victory.

“We are not naive to expect that the tremendous progress we have achieved in the last five months would go without attack, but this particular development came from a very unlikely source.

“The application by an unregistered association, which is not a registered political party and has no exclusive right to any logo under the law, is shocking.

“Moreover, it was not a necessary party to the suit because it had no interest in the subject matter. It did not apply for registration in 2025, it was not one of the 171 associations that applied, nor was it among the 21 associations shortlisted for registration.

“So, we know where this is coming from. It is coming from those who are shocked by the progress the NDC has made within such a short period as a result of our hard work and commitment to deepening multi-party democracy.

“We will not allow this to slow us down or break our spirit. The struggle must continue.

“We will use appropriate judicial channels to correct the judicial anomaly that occurred under the watch of Honourable Justice Dashen. He has clearly erred in law, and we will take steps to correct it.

“All our candidates, supporters, and teeming voters across the country and beyond should hold on firmly and keep the faith. This development shows that our efforts have not gone unnoticed.

“I would also like to refer to my favourite quote on struggles “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they attack you, then you win.”

“We are under attack, as I have repeatedly said we should prepare for challenges such as this. But thereafter, we shall win.

“Even with today’s development, thousands of Nigerians are joining us in solidarity. In fact, thousands of Nigerians across the country registered as NDC members today to show their solidarity, sympathy and support for our party. All things work together for good.

” Men may act with evil intentions, but if it is not the will of God, He turns it around for our good.

“I sincerely thank Nigerians for the confidence they continue to repose in the NDC. Your support, encouragement, and belief in our vision only strengthen our resolve to continue the struggle to deepen multi-party democracy in Nigeria.

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OpenAI restricts limited release of new model to US only

Published

11 hours ago

June 27, 2026

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OpenAI on Friday launched a US-only preview of its latest powerful AI model series to a limited group of partners at the request of the US government, the company said.

The release comes two weeks after the White House took Silicon Valley by surprise by ordering OpenAI’s rival Anthropic to ban all foreign nationals from accessing its Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models, citing national security concerns.

Anthropic swiftly shut down all access to those models, saying it could not reliably comply with the restriction on foreign nationals.

The latest models from leading AI companies, such as Anthropic’s Mythos series and now OpenAI’s GPT-5.6, have drawn major concerns over their reportedly unprecedented ability to identify software vulnerabilities — weaknesses in code that hackers can exploit.

Under pressure over the novelty of their capabilities, Trump earlier this month signed an executive order setting up a voluntary federal review of national security risks in advanced AI models before their release.

The White House has communicated little about how it will enforce its executive order — in which companies are understood to be participating voluntarily — and what models would fall under its review rules.

The intervention was striking for a White House that has otherwise pushed to loosen AI oversight — even moving to block states from writing their own rules.

The strong action against Anthropic has drawn accusations of government overreach, and OpenAI said it was uncomfortable with the process it was required to follow for its new models.

OpenAI said it briefed the US government on its new models’ capabilities ahead of the launch and, at the government’s request, is beginning with a limited preview for a select group of trusted partners whose identities have been shared with authorities.

The partners are US-based, but OpenAI said overseas employees at those companies or entities would also have access to the new models.

“We don’t believe this kind of government access process should become the long-term default,” OpenAI said in a blog post.

“It keeps the best tools from users, developers, enterprises, cyber defenders, and global partners who need them. We are taking this short-term step because we believe it is the strongest path to broader availability in the coming weeks.”

When Anthropic was initially targeted, some believed the safety-focused company was being unfairly singled out by the Trump administration for political reasons.

In an earlier clash with the White House, Anthropic angered Trump’s team by refusing to allow its technology to be used for mass surveillance and autonomous weapons, leading the Pentagon to cancel its contracts with the company.

That feud is now being litigated in two separate lawsuits.

– Three new models –

OpenAI’s GPT-5.6 series comprises three new models: Sol, the company’s new flagship; Terra, a mid-range model for everyday work; and Luna, a fast, low-cost option.

Once broadly available, Terra would be priced at half the cost of its predecessor GPT-5.5, the company said, as it seeks to lock in customers amid fierce competition from Anthropic and Google.

Both OpenAI and Anthropic have filed confidential IPO documents with US regulators and are targeting public listings at valuations approaching $1 trillion, raising the commercial stakes of the AI arms race between them.

AFP