News

Professional certification: Nigeria’s giant leap in public procurement reform

Published

12 months ago

October 3, 2025

EMMANUEL AGAJI

ADVERTISEMENT

By Sufuyan Ojeifo

The National Procurement Certification Programme (NPCP), a flagship initiative of Nigeria’s Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), is redefining how the nation manages public resources.

Anchored in the World Bank-funded Sustainable Procurement, Environmental, and Social Standards Enhancement (SPESSE) programme, the initiative prioritises transparency, efficiency and good governance. By making professional certification compulsory for procurement officers, the NPCP ensures that only qualified professionals handle Nigeria’s vast procurement responsibilities, tackling inefficiencies, inflated contracts and public distrust.

To be clear, the NPCP, as part of SPESSE, represents more than a technical fix. It is a bold attempt to professionalise an ecosystem that has long struggled with weak capacity and inconsistent standards. SPESSE itself is backed by an 80-million-dollar World Bank grant [being the first tranche and an additional $65m recently approved] and designed to align procurement practice with global benchmarks for sustainability, environmental responsibility and social accountability. Six centres of excellence in Nigerian universities now form the backbone of this reform, providing training for a pipeline of skilled professionals. The NPCP acts as the gatekeeper by validating candidates’ mastery of procurement laws, ethics, and best practices under the Public Procurement Act of 2007.

This initiative is not merely a symbolic exercise but a decisive shift towards professionalism in public service. Nigeria’s procurement spending accounts for almost a third of the national budget, estimated at more than 30 billion dollars annually. That scale makes procurement a make-or-break determinant of national development. When roads fail before completion or hospitals are left unequipped despite heavy investment, the roots of the problem are almost always found in weak procurement oversight. The NPCP, combined with SPESSE’s training, provides the corrective mechanism.

Recently, 250 participants attended a virtual orientation session organised by the NPCP team. The Certification Support Unit Coordinator, Mr. Babatunde Oladele, outlined the objectives of the professional certification process. The BPP Director-General, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, delivered a clear message that professional certification was no longer optional but compulsory for all procurement officers, in line with broad institutional reforms. He stated that procurement officers would undergo Nigeria Procurement training modules covering Nigeria procurement laws, Category Management, ethical standards, environmental considerations, and global best practices. These modules, developed under SPESSE, are designed not only to strengthen technical competence but also to embed sustainability and social safeguards into daily procurement practices.

Participants were guided step by step on the Safe Exam Browser that would be used for the professional certification exam. The orientation included illustrated instructions on downloading and launching the browser and laid out clear rules for the process.

A lively question-and-answer session allowed participants to clarify doubts, reinforcing confidence that the process would be both transparent and fair. The SPESSE programme’s investment in digital accessibility was evident, ensuring that candidates from across Nigeria could participate without the logistical burden of travel, a mark of inclusion and scalability.

The first set of the professional certification examination was held three days later. Out of 330 qualified candidates, 325 took part in the virtual session, which ran from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm. The test was rigorous, drawing 60 questions at random from a pool of 150, with each candidate receiving a different mix. They had 75 minutes to complete their answers. Stringent security was in place, with webcams required to be active throughout and automatic logout for anyone who lost connection.

These measures might have been tough, but they underlined the seriousness of the process and the credibility of the results, which are under review.

The implications for Nigeria’s procurement ecosystem are significant. The Office of the Head of Civil Service has approved the creation of a procurement cadre, linking promotions directly to professional certification. This marks a historic change in career progression and creates strong incentives for officers to embrace the NPCP.

For now, SPESSE subsidies make participation free of charge, but with the World Bank already signalling that this will not last forever, officers are being urged to take the opportunity while it remains accessible. A future where professional certification incurs fees could exclude those who delay; so urgency is both rational and necessary.

The stakes are high. The BPP audit of 2024 showed that 63 per cent of federal contracts missed their deadlines. The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative estimated that 4.1 trillion naira was lost to inflated contracts between 2020 and 2024.

These are not abstract numbers. They translate into abandoned infrastructure, underfunded schools, ill-equipped hospitals, and frustrated citizens. The costly redesign of the Abuja–Lokoja Highway, which added 217 billion naira to the project due to weak contract supervision, is only one example of why reform is urgent.

By linking training at university centres of excellence with a rigorous, technology-driven professional certification process, the SPESSE programme offers a dual strategy to address these failures. Officers are being prepared not only to meet technical requirements but also to uphold ethical and sustainable standards.

Embedding environmental and social considerations in procurement training places Nigeria within global currents, such as climate-conscious contracting and equitable resource allocation. In practice, this means procurement officers will be trained to consider carbon footprints when evaluating contractors or to ensure that local communities are not disadvantaged by large infrastructure projects.

For a better contextual understanding, it should be noted that Nigeria’s ambitions draw inspiration from countries like Rwanda and Morocco, where more than 90 per cent of procurement officers are certified, and e-procurement adoption exceeds 80 per cent. Vietnam has also emerged as a leader in embedding sustainability into procurement. By introducing a digital, randomised, and secure professional certification process, Nigeria is signalling that it is ready to join this group of reformers and, in time, set the pace on the continent.

Challenges remain, and it is important not to ignore them. Unstable internet access, particularly in rural areas, can limit equitable participation. Technical support must be strengthened to deal with glitches such as sudden webcam disconnections. Some candidates have already expressed concerns that security measures, while necessary, may disadvantage those with weaker connectivity.

The SPESSE programme’s resources, including its partnerships with universities and international experts, provide a platform to tackle these hurdles. Sustaining political will and scaling infrastructure will be essential if the early momentum is not to be lost.

For the avoidance of doubt, the NPCP is not simply a bureaucratic innovation. It is a milestone in Nigeria’s governance journey, one that combines political will, World Bank support, and the leadership of the BPP.

The message is already clear. Procurement can no longer be left to outdated practices or informal arrangements. It must be anchored in professionalism, transparency, and competence.

The NPCP, powered by the SPESSE programme, is a statement of intent. It signals that Nigeria is serious about ensuring every naira spent delivers value and builds public trust. If sustained, it will not just reform procurement but revolutionise it, laying the foundation for a governance system that truly serves citizens and stands comparison with the best in the world.

● Sufuyan Ojeifo is a journalist and editor-in-chief of THE CONCLAVE online newspaper.

News

TeeJay Yusuf mourns of Kogi Ex-Govsrnor Ibrahim Idris

Published

3 minutes ago

September 20, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

ADVERTISEMENT

…says this loss to me is particularly poignant

A Board of Trustees, BoT member of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP and 2027 Kogi West Senatorial candidate, Hon TeeJay Yusuf has expressed sadness over the demise of former Kogi Governor Ibrahim Idris.

Yusuf in a condolence message he personally signed said:

“I received with profound sadness the news of the passing of Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, former Governor of Kogi State.

“For me, this loss is particularly poignant. I had the privilege of knowing Alhaji Ibrahim Idris and crossing paths with him in the course of our political and public service journey in Kogi State.

“His presence in our political space, his experience, and his years of service gave him a distinctive place in the history of our state.

“Alhaji Ibrahim Idris leaves behind a significant political legacy. He was part of the generation of leaders who helped shape Kogi State’s political evolution and contributed to the development of our democratic institutions.

“His tenure and years of engagement in public affairs will remain important chapters in the story of Kogi State. Like every leader who serves in public life, his record will continue to be remembered, discussed, and assessed against the times in which he served.

“Beyond politics and the offices he held, he was a father, elder, leader, and statesman whose life touched many people. His departure is therefore a profound loss to his family, Kogi State, and the wider community of people who knew and respected him.

“I extend my deepest condolences to his family, loved ones, associates, and the entire people of Kogi State. May Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings, accept his good deeds, and grant him Aljannatul Firdaus.

“May Allah grant his family the strength and fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.

“May his memory remain a blessing, and may the legacy of his service continue to endure. Ameen.

News

NDLEA intercepts N3.4bn Loud, opioids, arrests fake police officer, mechanic-drug dealer(Photos)

Published

2 hours ago

September 20, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

ADVERTISEMENT

. Recovers over 1.3 million pills of opioids, 6,000kg skunk; nabs two teenagers with AK-47 rifles, pistol and ammunition in sweeps across Lagos, Edo, Niger, Delta, Abuja, Gombe, Imo and Ondo

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted over 1.3 million pills of tramadol and other opioids as well as 6,000 kilograms of potent strains of cannabis with a combined street value of more than N3.4 billion in a string of major operational breakthroughs across Lagos, Edo, Niger, Delta, Ondo, Gombe, Imo and FCT.

Top on the line up of successful operations was the interception of 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis with a gross weight of 603.75 kilograms, valued at One Billion Eight Hundred and Eleven Million Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N1,811,250,000), and the arrest of a trafficker who impersonates as a senior police officer to evade scrutiny at checkpoints while ferrying drugs across state lines.

The 49-year-old fake police officer Innocent Ekpe was arrested on Wednesday 16th September 2026 by NDLEA operatives along the Benin-Onitsha expressway in Asaba, Delta state with 292.48 kilograms of skunk hidden in his silver Toyota Sienna bus. Investigation established that Ekpe had long paraded himself as Godwin Emeka, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, using a forged ID card to escape scrutiny at checkpoints while transporting illicit consignments. An accomplice, 39-year-old Nduka Joseph, was arrested along with him.

In Edo State, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence stormed a location on Agbor Road, Benin City, where they arrested 45-year-old Matthew Ossai, who used his auto-repair workshop as a front for storing illicit drugs. Officers recovered 48 kilograms of Canadian Loud and 152 grams of methamphetamine, along with a metal box used to store the illicit substances.

At the Tin-Can Island Port in Lagos, a 40-foot container shipped from Montreal, Canada, and arrived on 12th September was placed under intensive monitoring by NDLEA operatives based on processed intelligence. The shipment was eventually subjected to a full joint physical examination with Customs and other security agencies on Wednesday 16th September. The search uncovered 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 603.75 kilograms, concealed inside 31 black jumbo bags loaded within two Toyota Sienna vehicles in the container.

In Niger State, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Abuja-Kaduna expressway at Chachi, Tafa LGA, on Tuesday 15th September arrested three young suspects: Bashir Usman (20), Abubakar Nuhu (18) and Abdulrahman Abdulwahab (18) with two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles and a magazine, a locally made pistol with magazine, and nine rounds of 9mm ammunition concealed in a black travel bag.

Two suspects: Aminu Isyaku (23) and Jamilu Habibu (25) were on Friday 18th September arrested by NDLEA officers along Abaji-Abuja highway. Over 1.1 million assorted tramadol tablets/capsules, codeine syrup, methamphetamine and Exol tablets concealed in eight sacks en route from Onitsha, Anambra state to Mararaba, Nasarawa state, were recovered from them.

In Lagos, a suspect Onyeka Ofor was arrested on Friday 18th September at his residence in Aguda, Surulere with 48,900 pills of tramadol 225mg , while seven cartons of cannabis sativa weighing 59kg were intercepted at a logistics company with a suspect Luke Ugokwe taken into custody. In another operation in Lagos, Ibrahim Hudu (43) was arrested at Apongbo with 998.38kg of nitrous oxide gas on Thursday 17th September.

A total of 154,480 capsules of tramadol were recovered from two suspects: Sabi’u Umar (27) and Hassana Muhammad (19) who were arrested at Barunde area and Gombe main market respectively in Gombe state on Friday 18th September.

A suspect Ifesinachi Godwin (25) was arrested along the Owerri-Onitsha road, Imo state with 43.85kg of skunk on Friday 18th September, while four suspects: Blessing Effiong, Saviour Peter, David Friday Sunday and Ability Peter Sunday, were nabbed during raid and destruction of 5,000 kilograms of skunk on a two-hectare cannabis farm in Ita-Ogbolu forest, Ondo state on Tuesday 15th September. No less than 48kg of dry and fresh cannabis was recovered from the location for the prosecution of the suspects.

With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week. These include: WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of St. Ferdinand School, Ogbomoso, Oyo; Unizik Secondary School, Awka, Anambra; Scholars Nursery and Primary School, Epe, Lagos, and
Government Technical Training School, Jalingo, Taraba state, while the Delta Ports Command of NDLEA paid a WADA advocacy visit to His Royal Majesty, King Couple Mackson Oromoni Mobene III, Pere Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom, Delta state, among others.

While commending the officers and men of Lagos, Tincan, Edo, Niger, Delta, Ondo, Gombe, Imo and FCT Commands for their professionalism and intelligence-driven approach to the various successful operations, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) enjoined them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the current balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the Agency.

News

Arewa Youths Hail NNPCL Boss Ojulari For Launch of Nigeria’s Pioneer Smart Self-Service Station

Published

3 hours ago

September 20, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

ADVERTISEMENT

The Arewa Youth Council (AYC) has praised the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, following the commissioning of Nigeria’s first Smart Self-Service Filling Station in Abuja.

The youth body also welcomed the clear plan to establish between 50 and 70 similar modern energy hubs across the country within the next six months.

In a statementAmbassador Sidi Sani and Publicity Secretary Mallam Bilal Usman, the Council described the project as a progressive transformation of the nation’s downstream petroleum retail sector.

It noted that traditional filling stations are being converted into integrated energy and mobility hubs that combine fuel dispensing with digital and multi-energy services.

“This initiative marks a significant and progressive transformation of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum retail sector,” the Council stated.

“By converting traditional filling stations into integrated energy and mobility hubs, NNPC Limited has introduced self-service fuel dispensing through a mobile application, digital payment systems, electric vehicle charging points, liquefied petroleum gas facilities, planned compressed natural gas services, solar-powered operations, and complementary customer amenities.

“The model prioritises convenience, accuracy, transparency, and round-the-clock accessibility,” the statement added.

“For Nigeria, the Smart Station programme represents a decisive shift toward technology-enabled energy retailing.”

The Arewa Youth Council emphasised that the programme strengthens national energy security while modernising service delivery.

It said the initiative positions the country to meet changing consumer demands and prepare for a multi-energy future that includes petrol, diesel, LPG, CNG, and electricity.

Direct benefits for citizens were highlighted as practical and immediate. Motorists, commercial transporters, and households stand to gain from shorter queues, greater control over transactions, and more reliable product delivery, according to the Council.

“Motorists, commercial transporters, and households will experience reduced waiting times, greater control over transactions, and improved reliability in product delivery,” the statement declared.

“Digital self-service options minimise disputes over quantity and enhance accountability.

“The inclusion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure anticipates the gradual expansion of cleaner mobility options, while solar power reduces operational dependence on the national grid,” it continued.

“These stations will deliver a more efficient, modern, and dignified retail experience for ordinary Nigerians.”

At the national level, the Council observed that the programme carries strategic value by supporting the expansion and modernisation of NNPC Limited’s retail network of about 900 outlets.

The transformation is expected to deepen market presence, create new value chains, and generate opportunities in technology support, infrastructure maintenance, and customer service.

Rather than displacing workers, the new model is expected to evolve existing roles and introduce new skill requirements, thereby contributing to sustainable employment across the sector.

“We specifically commend Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari for the strategic leadership that has made this possible,” the Arewa Youth Council said.

“Since assuming office, he has demonstrated a consistent commitment to performance, institutional reform, and national interest.

“Under his direction, NNPC Limited has maintained focus on production growth, critical infrastructure delivery, commercial discipline, and customer-oriented transformation,” the statement noted.

“The Smart Self-Service Station initiative is a tangible expression of that leadership—practical, measurable, and citizen-focused.”

While acknowledging NNPC Limited’s other achievements in upstream operations, gas development, and organisational efficiency, the Council chose to focus on the downstream innovation because of its direct impact on the daily lives of Nigerians.

Energy, it stressed, remains the lifeblood of economic activity and household wellbeing.
Making retail more efficient, transparent, and multi-dimensional is therefore a matter of national importance, the group maintained.

“The Arewa Youth Council urges accelerated and inclusive nationwide rollout, with deliberate attention to northern and underserved regions,” the statement read.

“We call on state governments, private sector partners, and technology providers to support the expansion.

“Continuous refinement of the customer experience and structured training for personnel supporting the new systems will be essential for long-term success,” it added.

“We congratulate Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, the Management and staff of NNPC Limited and NNPC Retail, and all collaborating partners.”